DRACOPHYLLUM LATIFOLIUM, Hook. f. 
THE NEINEL. 
OR i PA CR LD) EAR, 
(Plate CX XIII.) 
Tue neinei is a plant remarkable alike for the singularity of its habit, the 
beauty of its leaves and flowers, the ornamental character of its wood, and its 
peculiar distribution. It forms an erect shrub or small tree from toft. to 25ft. 
high, clothed with brown fibrous bark; the trunk rarely exceeds rft. in diameter: 
the branches are usually given off in whorls, spreading and ascending, naked 
below, but carrying a large cluster of spreading recurved leaves toin. to aft. 
long and from tin. to 2in. broad at the base, tapering into very long drooping 
points, concave on the upper surface, with the margins very minutely toothed. 
From the centre of the leaves rises a many-flowered almost cylindrical panicle 
of red flowers, the panicle being from 6in, to r8in. long, and nearly 2in. in dia- 
meter; the axis is very stout, and the short erect branches are jointed at their 
base. The minute flowers, }in. long, are excessively crowded. The calyx 
consists of five broad obtuse sepals, one-fourth the leneth of the red bell-shaped 
corolla, which has five small spreading lobes and five extremely short stamens 
inserted at its mouth. The fruit 1s a dry capsule with numerous seeds, 
An allied species, Dracophyllum Traversit, is apparently confined to the 
South Island, where it chiefly occurs at altitudes between 2,800ft. and 5,oooft. 
It is more sparinely branched than D. J/atifolium, but the trunk is sometimes 
2ft. in diameter; the leaves are more rigid, of a pale bluish-white, and the wood 
is less ornamental. 
PROPERTIES AND USEs, 
The wood is smooth, even, and firm, of a hght reddish-brown colour, very 
prettily figured, and often waved or clouded in small patches; it takes a high 
finish, and is of great durability. It 1s suitable for all kinds of ornamental work, 
Dracophyllum latifolium is easily cultivated in cool situations. 
DIsTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS, 
See under Dracophyllum longifolium, p. 215, ante. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Dyracophyllum latifolium occurs chiefly in woods, especially in hilly country, 
and is most frequent in the Auckland District. It is found sparingly in the 
Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay Districts, but has never been observed in the 
Wellington District. In the South Island it appears to be confined to the Nel- 
son and Westland Districts, attaining its southern limit near Charleston. 
It ascends from the sea-level to 3,cooft. 
DESCRIPTION, 
Dracophyllum latifolium, Hook. f. 
A small tree, toft. to 25ft. high. Branches often whorled, naked below, 
with a crown of spreading squarrose rather coriaceous leaves, with sheathing 
