OTP AVICENNIA OFFICINALIS. 
found that the leaves and twigs contains 6-41 per cent. of potash, and 1 the 
3°92 per cent. . 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. : 
Avicennia is a small genus comprising three or four species found in troy 
and subtropical Asia, Africa, America, also in Australia and New Zeala id. A 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. | a 
Avicennia officinalis has a wide distribution in tropical or i | 
countries: Asia, Africa, South America, Australia, and New. Zealand. 
In New Zealand the plant is distributed from the North Cape to Kawhia 
Harbour on the west coast, and the northern part of Tauranga Harbour o1 mth e 
east coast. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Avicennia officinalis, Linné. 
A. tomentosa, Jacq. 
A. resinifera, Forst. a 
An evergreen shrub or tree, sometimes 4oft. high, growing on the mud-fi 
of tidal rivers or estuaries. Branchlets opposite, pubescent. Leaves opposi 
entire, coriaceous, 2in. to 3in. long including the petiole, clothed with ARB 3€ 
tomentum Benet ovate or pblone, acute or obtuse. Flowers on axi 
peduncles clustered in threes or fives; peduncles pubescent, crowned with 
compact head of from five to eight sessile flowers ; calyx deeply four- or five-c 
silky ; corolla coriaceous, campanulate, with four or five silky lobes; stan 
four or five, with short filaments inserted on the corolla; ovary silky ey 
celled, with two pendulous ovules in each cell; styles very short, erect. Ft 
large, ovoid, compressed, one-celled and one-seeded; seed with very large 
cotyledons and scanty endosperm. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE CXXX, 
A vicennia officinalis, Linné. Flowering specimen, natural size. 
