DACRYDIUM KIRKII, fF. Mueller. 
THE MANOAO, 
OrDER—CONIPER 4. 
TRIBE—TAXEE. 
(Plates XCVII. and LXX XII, in part.) 
Turis species was originally discovered by Mr. Colenso in 1841, but, as already 
stated, was for many years confused with Dacrydium Colensot until published by 
Professor Parlatore in his revision of the Conifer@ for De Candolle’s “ Pro- 
dromus:’’ the specific name having been given by Sir Ferdinand Baron von 
Mueller, to whom specimens were sent in 1868. 
It is a handsome pyramidal or conical tree, attaining the extreme height of 
rooft., with a trunk sometimes 4ft. in diameter, but usually much smaller: it is 
clothed with light-brown bark, Asin the preceding species, the foliage is of two 
kinds, but the difference is of a still more striking character. The lower 
branches are spreading, the upper ascending or erect, the ultimate branch- 
lets forming fan-shaped masses. The lower branches are clothed with long 
narrow flat leaves, sometimes to the height of 4oft.; the upper branches are 
clothed with closely-appressed leaves ; so that the lower part of the tree resembles 
a silver-fir, while the upper part puts on the appearance of a cypress. The 
large leaves change into those of the fully-mature state with great abruptness, 
both forms being often found on the same branch or eyen on the same branchlet: 
‘The leaves on sterile branches are from tin. to rhin. long, rather less crowded 
than in D. Colensot, but wider and spreading, flat, acute, and shining, with mid- 
rib and veins distinct, and the margins slightly thickened: the short leaf-stalks 
have a curious half-twist. The fertile branches with the appressed leaves are 
almost cylindrical, and the leaves are broadly rhomboidal, sin. long, slightly 
keeled, and with a membranous margin. The branches are faintly marked with 
old leaf-scars; the leaves being persistent for a short time only, and never 
becoming woody. | 
The male catkins are solitary, smaller than in D. Colensoi, and sessile at the 
tips of branchlets; the connective is longer and narrower than in the preceding 
species. The female flowers have not been seen in good condition, but are 
arranged near the tips of the branchlets, each being seated on a coriaceous 
receptacle formed of a modified leaf, which, as the ovule matures, becomes 
thick in texture, broad, and abruptly narrowed to a short point. In many cases 
the base of the nut is invested by a fleshy orange-coloured envelope, which is 
often entirely wanting. The nuts are obtuse, much larger than those of 
D, Colensot. 
The plant is resinous in all its parts. 
The following table shows the chief points of difference between Dacrydium 
Kirku and D. Colensoi :— 
9 
