MYRTUS BULLATA, Banks and Solander. 
THE RAMARAMA., 
Orppr—MYRTACE 6. 
(Plate CXXXI.) 
THe ramarama is the largest and most attractive of the New Zealand myrtles - 
it varies from a dwarf shrub to a small tree 3oft. in height, but is easily dis- 
tincuished from all other indigenous plants by its dedishs Brave leaves, the 
spaces between the veins of which are tumid or inflated, presenting a singular 
appearance, as if blistered. Its white flowers are produced freely, and form an 
avreeable contrast with the brown leaves. 
The branchlets are red and clothed with very short hairs, a character which 
is exhibited also by the leaves when young. The leaves are opposite, from Tin. 
to nearly 21n, in jenath, and from 3in. to nearly tin. broad: they are carried 
on short leaf-stalks, and are quite entire, and acute at the tip. The flowers are 
borne on slender Hower-stalks, which are as lone as or shorter than the leaves: 
the calyx is divided into four lobes; four white or pink petals and numerous 
stamens are carried on its inner margin. The fruit is a bright-red berry, 41m. 
long, and contains several fat bony seeds arranged in two cells. 
The flower-stalks and calyx are clothed with short silky hairs, and nearly 
all parts of the plant are dotted with pellucid glands, The flowers are produced 
in December and January. 
PROPERTIES AND USEs. 
The wood of the ramarama is red, straight, and compact, strong, tough, 
and clastic : it is often prettily figured. It is used for the handles of axes and 
carpenters’ tools, and is valued tor ornamental work; transverse sections are 
used for inlaying. 
This species is valuable for ornamental planting, but has been much 
neclected, 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS 
See under Myrtus obcordata, p. 127, ante. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Myrtus bullata is frequent in lowland districts in the North Island, from 
Mongonui to Cook Strait. In the South Island it is confined to the Districts of 
Maiiborouch and Nelson, being plentiful in some parts of Marlborough, but rare 
and local in Nelson. 
It ascends from the sea-level to 1,80o0ft. 
DESCRIPTION 
Myrtus bullata, Banks and Solander. 
An evergreen shrub or erect tree, 5ft. to 30ft. high. Branchlets and young 
leaves tomentose. Leaves reddish-brown, opposite, shorty petioled, #in. to 2in. 
long, broadly ovate or orbicular-ovate, obtuse or acute, subcoriaceous, tumid 
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