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962, METROSIDEROS FLORIDA. 
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DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Metrosideros florida is common in forests throughout the North Islan¢ 
the North Cape to Cook Strait. It is less pionntaie in the South Island 
found in Marlborough, Nelson, Westland, and on the west coast of Ota 7 
appears to be absent from the eastern side of the South Island, an and has not 
been observed in Southland or on Stewart Island. > = 
It ascends from the sea-level to nearly 3,oo0oft. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Metrosideros florida, Smith. 
A lofty climber; stems from 4in. to 6in. in diameter, with deep c¢ 
coloured bark. ees opposite, petioled, in. to 3in. long, alipti-sb ny 
lanceolate-oblong, entire, obtuse. Flowers in terminal cymes, sim 
branched, few- or many-flowered. Calyx obconic, superior, glabrous; 
five, perigynous; stamens very numerous, slender, lin. long; ovary adna 
the base of the calyx-tube, three-celled; style exceeding the stamens. IF 
three-celled inferior woody capsule, es with and half the length « 
ribbed woody calyx-tube ; seeds numerous. 
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EXPLANATION OF PLATE CXXVIL 
Metrosideros florida, Smith. Flowering and fruiting specimens, natura | size. 
. Longitudinal section of a flower with the stamens removed. 2, Long itt C 
section a a fruit. 3. Transverse section of the same. 4. Seed. All magnified. 
