MYERTUS RALPHITI, Hook. f. 
THE SMALL-LEAVED RAMARAMA,. 
OrpER—M YRTACE#. 
(Plate XCIV.) 
Turis charming plant was discovered by Dr. Ralph, formerly of Wellington, and 
originally described in the supplementary portion of the ‘ llora Novee-Zelandia,’ 
published in 1853. It usually forms an evergreen shrub, but occasionally 
becomes a small tree, rarely exceeding 2oft. in height, with a trunk 6in. in 
diameter. It 1s closely related to Afyrtus bullata,* Banks and Solander, but is 
smaller in all its parts. 
Its branchlets are slightly hairy, and the leaves are opposite, about ‘in. 
long and gin. wide, narrowed into short leaf-stalks ; the surface is usually plane, 
although sometimes slightly tumid, but never to so great an extent as those of 
M, bullata. he flowers are din. across, solitary, and carried on peduncles from 
kin. to lin. long or more; their structure is the same as that of the flowers 
of Myrtus obcordata,t already described. The red fruit is rounded, crowned 
with the remains of the calyx, and contains from two to four bony seeds. The 
leaves, flowers, and fruit in the young state are more or less dotted with pellacid 
elands. 
It is the rarest of the New Zealand myrtles, and produces its charming 
flowers in great profusion during the months of December and January. 
PROPERTIES AND USEs. 
The wood of Myrtus Ralphi 1s of small dimensions, but very strong, tough, 
and elastic; it is of a red colour, prettily streaked and mottled, and is Bnteibls 
for ornamental turnery, inlaying, &c.; it is valued for the handles of axes, 
carpenters’ tools, and similar purposes. It is easily cultivated, and deserves a 
place in every collection of flowering and ornamental shrubs. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
see under Myrtus obcordata, Hook. f., p. 127, ante. 
DIsTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Myrius Ralphii has the most restricted distribution of all the New Zealand 
myrtles, and is at the same time the most local in its area. Its northern limit 
so far as known is at the south head of the Manukau Harbour: it occurs in 
Hawke’s Bay, and is most plentiful in the southern portion of the Wellington 
District. In the South Island it is not infrequent in the Pelorus and in Oueen 
Charlotte Sound, Marlborough, but is restricted to the Matai Valley in the 
Nelson District. 
It ascends from the sea-level to about 1,200ft. 
* Plate CXXXI, + Plate LXX., ante. 
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