CYATHODES ACEROSA, Brown. 
THE MINGI. 
Orper—EPACRIDE 4. 
(Plate CVIIT.) 
CYATHODES ACEROSA is a shrub or, rarely, a small tree, 18ft. high, with pungent 
leaves and minute white flowers, which are succeeded by spherical red or white 
fruits, which give the plant an attractive appearance. 
The leaves are rigid, spreading, and sharp at the apex, from fin. to §in. 
long, and from yi;in. to gin. wide. The flowers are minute, jin. long, and are 
carried on short pedicels in the axils of the terminal leaves. The pedicels are 
clothed with minute scale-like bracts; the corolla is flask-shaped, with five 
spreading lobes, and slightly exceeds the calyx in length; stamens, five, inserted 
on the corolla. The fruit is a white or red drupe, in. in diameter. 
Two forms are often recognised, but they are not of great importance: «, 
with the lateral nerves of the leaves branching outwards (PI. CVIII., Fig. 2) ; 
B, with the nerves of the leaves simple, points longer and more pungent 
(PI. CVILI., Fig. 4). Both forms of leaf may however be found on the same 
branch. 
PROPERTIES AND USES. 
The wood of the mingi is of a light-brown colour, hard, compact, even, and 
elastic, but of great durability. It is sometimes prettily marked, and is occa- 
sionally used for ornamental work. Although of small dimensions, it is one of 
the timbers used for survey-pegs on account of its durability. It is easily 
cultivated. 
DisTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
Cyathodes comprises fourteen species, of which eight are found in Australia, 
two in the Sandwich Islands, &c., and five in New Zealand. One of the New 
Zealand species is also found in Australia, one is peculiar to the Chatham 
Islands, and another is only found in the Nelson District. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Cyathodes acerosa is distributed through the colony from the North Cape to 
Stewart Island, and attains its largest dimensions in open forest, especially 
if growing on gentle slopes. 
It ascends from the sea-level to nearly 2,oooft. 
C. acerosa is also found in Australia. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Cyathodes acerosa, RK. Brown. 
A shrub or, rarely, a small tree, raft. to 18ft. high; bark black. Leaves 
scattered, in. to skin. wide, acerose, rigid, spreading, with pungent points, 
sometimes slightly wider above the middle. Flowers minute, solitary, axillary, 
on short peduncles near the tips of branchlets; peduncles clothed with obtuse 
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