ARISTOTELIA RACEMOSA, Hook. f. 
THE MAKOMAKO, 
OrDpDER— PILLAGE AS 
(Plate CXIII.) 
Tur makomako or ‘‘wine-berry’’ of the settlers was discovered by Banks and 
Solander, who gave it the MS. name of Triphala rubicunda, but it was described 
by A. Cunningham under the name of Friesia racemosa: in the ‘ Flora Nove- 
Zelandix ” it was placed by Sir Joseph Hooker in Aristotelia. It is one of the 
commonest plants in the colony, and is of interest from being the first plant to 
make its appearance after the forest has been cleared, especially in the southern 
districts: in many parts of the colony its straight stems may be found growing 
by roadsides or in abandoned clearings in a way that at once calls to mind the 
hazel-copses of Europe. 
| It forms a shrub or small tree, from Oft. to 30ft. high, with a trunk 18in. in 
diameter, and when covered with its various-tinted flowers presents a handsome 
appearance. The branches are‘distant and spreading; they are slender, and 
clothed with fine hairs: the bark of the young wood is red, which changes into 
black. The leaves are opposite, from 2in. to 5in. long, and carried on long 
slender footstalks; they are of thin texture, and often red or purple below, 
broadly heart-shaped, tapering to a long point, and the margins are irregularly 
cut into large sharp teeth. The flowers are rosy-red of varying shades, about 
1in. in diameter, and carried on slender pedicels; they are arranged in much- 
branched slender panicles, which spring from the axils of the leaves, and are 
clothed with downy hairs. The male and female flowers are produced on 
different trees, the latter being easily recognised by their smaller size, In the 
male flower the calyx consists of four sepals, and the corolla of four free petals, 
which are deeply lobed or toothed at the tips: the stamens are numerous, and 
clothed with long hairs. In the female flower the sepals and petals are similar 
to those of the male but smaller, and the ovary is conical, with three or four 
short styles. The fruit is a small red berry, changing into black, four- or, rarely, 
three-celled. The seeds are remarkable from having a thin fleshy outer coat 
casing the hard bony envelope. 
The flowers are produced during the months of October and November, 
PROPERTIES AND UsksEs. 
The wood is white, straight in the grain, often streaked and figured. 
Although of light specific gravity, it is suitable for many purposes of the cabinet- 
maker and for general turned work: it is occasionally used for inlaying. 
Although not durable when exposed, it is frequently used for fence-rails and 
similar purposes. 
It is extensively converted into charcoal for the manufacture of certain kinds 
of cunpowder. For this purpose long straight rods, toft. to 15ft. long, and not 
exceeding 5in. or 6in. in diameter at the base, are preferred ; these are felled, 
peeled, and cut into 4ft. lengths, for which {1 Ios, per cord is paid on delivery 
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