CORYNOCARPUS LLJVIGATA. 173 
‘The writer well recollects having seen at Whangarei (Bream Bay) in the 
years 1836-39, a fine healthy youth of about twelve years of age who had been 
recovered from poisoning by karaka kernels. He, however, had not been 
properly attended to as to the tying of his limbs in their right position while 
under the influence of the poison, and he was therefore now a curious spectacle, 
reminding one of the instrument called a caltrops more than anything else. One 
leg was curved up behind to his loins, and the other bent up in front with the 
foot outwards; one arm inclined behind his shoulder, and the other slightly bent 
and extended forwards; and all, as to muscles, inflexibly rigid. He could do 
nothing, not even turn himself as he lay, nor drive off the sandflies (which were 
there in legions) from feasting on his naked body, nor scratch himself when 
itching, nor put any food into his mouth.” 
The karaka is readily propagated by seeds and easily cultivated, but 1s of 
slow growth. Cultivated specimens in poor soil produce flowers when less than 
5ft. high. 
DisTRIBUTION. 
Corynocarpus consists of a single species, C. levigata, which is endemic in 
New Zealand. 
It is found on the Kermadec Islands and at the North Cape, whence it 
extends southwards to Cook Strait. It exhibits a decided preference for littoral 
situations, and is found on nearly all the outlying islands both on the east and 
west coasts of the North Island, as well as in many inland localities. 
It is very rare in the South Island, being restricted to a few localities in the 
Nelson, Marlborough, and Canterbury Districts. In Nelson solitary trees are 
found near Collingwood and West Wanganui, but it occurs in some quantity on 
D’Urville Island. It is found sparingly in the lower parts of Queen Charlotte 
Sound and the Pelorus, in Marlborough ; but in Canterbury it 1s confined to two 
or three localities on Banks Peninsula. It is plentiful on the Chatham Islands. 
It is most plentiful at or near sea-level, but ascends to 1,200ft. 
The karaka was formerly cultivated by the Maoris: small groves planted 
by them may still be found in many places on the coast. 
It is said to have been introduced by the original Maori immigrants from 
Hawaiki—a belief which is still held by the Morioris on the Chatham Islands. 
But this tradition is inconsistent with the fact that the karaka is not found in 
any of the countries which are supposed to have been the cradle of the stock 
from which the Maori sprang, and is not found in any country except New 
Zealand. The late Major Heaphy used to mect this difficulty by suggesting 
~that°in all probability Hawaiki was one of the Pacific islands which became 
submerged after the departure of the ancestors of the present Maoris. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Corynocarpus leevigata, Forst., ‘Botanical Magazine,” t. 4,379. 
A glabrous eyergreen tree, 2oft. to 4oft. high or more. Leaves exstipulate, 
alternate, 3in. to 7in. long, oblong or broadly lanceolate, obtuse, narrowed into 
short stout petioles, shining. Flowers perfect, jin. in diameter, in erect rigid 
terminal panicles, globose; pedicels stout, Calyx inferior; sepals five, with 
membranous margins ; petals five, free, perigynous. Disk fleshy, with five lobes, 
each carrying a jagged petaloid process, Stamens five. Ovary one-cclled, with 
a solitary pendulous ovule; stigma capitate. Fruit, an ovoid or obovoid drupe ; 
sarcocarp fleshy; endocarp reticulated, coriaceous, and fibrous. Seed with a 
thin, veined testa. Endosperm none. Cotyledons plano-convex, fleshy. Radicle 
minute, superior. 
44 
