190 DACRYDIUM COLENSOI. 
rarely in twos, at the tips of branchlets. The fruit has only been met with in 
an immature condition, and consists of a small nut seated on a coriaceous 
receptacle, apparently without a membranous inner cup. The branchlets vary 
considerably in thickness, and in exposed situations the leaves of the mature 
state are more strongly keeled than those of plants growing in sheltered places. 
Speaking generally, the branchlets and leaves of plants growing on the West 
Coast are more slender than those of eastern specimens. All parts of the plant 
are resinous, and the leaves of the mature state are dotted with resin-glands. 
PROPERTIES AND UsSEs. 
The wood of Dacrydium Colensot is straight in the grain, even, and compact, 
of a yellowish-brown colour, destitute of figure, but silky and easily worked. It 
is of great strength and extreme durability, especially when used for posts and 
sleepers. Mr. Buchanan, F.L.S., informed me that it formerly grew in con- 
siderable quantity near Dunedin, and was converted for general building purposes 
and furniture under the name of yellow-pine. It is rarely placed on the market, 
but in out-districts is employed for house-blocks, sleepers, fencing, and more 
rarely for building purposes and the manufacture of fannituree: shepherds 
occasionally extract tar from its branches. Its dimorphic foliage and remark- 
able appearance render it valuable for ornamental planting, but its growth i 1s 
very slow, 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS, 
see under Dacrydiuim cupressinum, p. 29, ante. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
This species is endemic in New Zealand, and appears to find its northern 
limit on the Ruahine Ranges: it occurs chiefly at altitudes above 3,oooft. 
Tongariro, Ngaurahoe, Ruapehu, and the Tararua Ranges, in the North Island: 
it is, however, somewhat local. It is more plentiful on the mountains of the 
South Island, especially those of Canterbury and Otago. Travellers by the West 
Coast Koad from Christchurch to Hokitika can scarcely fail to observe it on 
Arthur’s Pass at an altitude of 3,oooft. It is plentiful in several localities on 
Stewart Island, and I was informed by Mr. Walker that a small grove existed 
on the west coast of that island, some of the trunks being fully 3ft. in diameter. 
It ascends from the sea-level to 4,o00ft., and upwards. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Daecrydium Colensoi, Hook., ‘‘ Icones Plantarum,” t. 548. 
Podocarpus ? biformis, Hook., ‘‘ Icones Plantarum,” t. 544. 
A dicecious tree, 20ft. to goft. high, resinous in all its parts. Branches 
stout, marked with the scars of old leaves. Leaves dimorphic: on young plants 
scattered, linear, spreading, flat, acute, costate, }in. to din. long, jkin. broad, 
narrowed into a short broad petiole; on mature branches quadrifariously imbri- 
cated, triangular or ovate-oblong, stoutly keeled, obtuse, jin. to 7 in. long, 
sometimes becoming woody and persistent. Ultimate branchlets tetragonous. 
Male catkins terminal, oblong, about din. long; anthers few, broad; connective 
obtuse. Female flowers only seen in an immature state, solitary or in twos. 
Fruit (immature), one or two near the tips of the branchlets. Nut small, seated 
on a coriaceous cup-shaped receptacle. 
EXPLANATION OF Plates XCVI. anp LXXXII. (in part). 
XCVI. Dacrydium Colensoi, Hook. Branches from a young plant, and from 
a mature plant with male catkins. All natural size. 
LXXXa. 1. Dacrydium Colensoit, Hook. 1. Male catkin. 2. Anther, side 
view. 3. Anther, front view. 4. Leaves. All magnified. 
