—— el tt— 4b 
METROSIDEROS FLORIDA, Smith. 
THE AKA. 
OrDER—MYRTACE#A. 
(Plate CXXVII.) 
Tue "Ven. Archdeacon W. L. Williams informs me that this fine climber is 
termed the ‘“‘aka”’ or ‘‘aka-tawhiwhi” or ‘‘ pua-tawhiwhi:” a white-flowered 
species, Metrosideros scandens, is also termed ‘‘aka.’’ Many settlers confuse this 
species with the next, M. robusta, which never climbs, but forms a large erect 
tree. 
M. florida is a climber during all stages of its existence, except in the 
absence of a tree to which it can cling, when its stems are at first prostrate, 
but give off erect branches, which sometimes form dense thickets or low scrub 
3ft. or 4ft. high: it never forms an erect trunk. Its orange-scarlet flowers are 
produced in great profusion, and, whether exhibiting its natural scandent habit 
on the trunk of a lofty tree or growing as a dense bush, it is equally attractive. 
In old specimens the stems are from 3in. to 6in. in diameter, and frequently 
hang from the branches of lofty trees like immense cables: they are clothed 
with deep chestnut-coloured bark, which gives off large flakes, often presenting 
a ragged appearance. ‘The young stems are very tender, aid become firmly 
attached to the stems of the supporting tree by small claspers or aérial rootlets, 
resembling those of the ivy. The branchlets are usually clothed with short 
downy hairs, and the leaves are opposite, quite entire, from Iin. to nearly 3in. 
long, and from din. to #in. wide; they are carried on short petioles, and are 
obtuse at the apex. The flowers are arranged in panicles at the extremities 
of the branchlets, and are from three- to twelve-flowered, the flowers being 
about tin, in length, and carried on slender pedicels singly or, rarely, in twos or 
threes. The calyx is narrow and deeply funnel-shaped, five-lobed at the margin, 
carrying five small red petals and numerous crowded erect stamens with scarlet 
filaments; the ovary is adherent with the base of the calyx-tube, and the long 
slender style slightly exceeds the stamens in length. The fruit is a three-celled 
woody capsule, is wholly embedded within the woody calyx-tube, and is not more 
than half its leng a character which distinguishes it from all other New 
Zealand species, especially from M. robusta, with which it is often confused. A 
solitary specimen, with golden-yellow ow ees has long been known on the 
Mokau River, and is highly prized by the Natives of the sistiov, 
PROPERTIES AND USsEs, 
The long scandent stems of this species are used for rustic-work, garden- 
seats and decorations, &c., but its commercial value is very small. It bears 
cutting freely, and is easily cultivated, forming compact bushy specimens suitable 
either for the border or lawn. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
See under Metrosideros lucida, p. 99, ante. 
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