954 - MYOPORUM LATUM. 
leaves afford a volatile oil in considerable quantities, but its properties have no 
been ascertained. 
The ngaio is valued for ornamental planting, especially in the vici ity of the 
sea, and is easily propagated by seeds or cuttings. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS, A 
The genus Myoporum contains about twenty species, chiefly found in Aus- 
tralia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island and other islands in the 
Bane, the Mascarene Islands, the Malay Archipelago, China, Japan, a ind one 
in tropical Africa. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. | 
Myoporum letum is chiefly found in lowland situations near the s 
attains its northern limit on the Kermadec Islands, extending southar > to 
Otago, but is not found on Stewart Island. It is rare aed local i in me | 
districts, especially in the South Island, although it occurs on both the ea east and 
west coasts. 
It is the only New Zealand species, and is endemic, although closely allied 
to a Norfolk Island species. } 
DESCRIPTION. 
Myoporum leetum, Banks and Sol. 
A shrub or small tree, roft. to 3oit. high, with rather stout bea 
are slightly viscid at the tips. Leaves alternate or sub-opposite,. ¢ glial 
lanceolate, broadly lanceolate, or obovate-lanceolate ; rin. to 4in. long, ha irc 
into short petioles ; thickly dotted with translucent glands; margins serrate nea 
the apex, Flowers in axillary two- to six-flowered fascicles, peduncles 4 
#in. long; calyx inferior; corolla five-lobed, in. to gin. broad, tube and 
villous, the two upper lobes approximate. Fruit, a reddish-purple drupe, 4 jin, 
din. long. Nut, four-celled, of bony hardness; cells one-seeded. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE CXAXIV. 
Myoporum letum, Banks and Sol. Natural size. 1. Corolla 1 2ic 
magnified. 2. Cluster of fruits. 3. Stone. Both natural size. 4. Tr al 
section of fruit. 5. Portion of leaf. Both magnified. 
n 
