278 SIDEROXYLON COSTATUM. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Sideroxylon costatum is found on Norfolk Island and in Australia and New 
Zealand, where it extends from the North Cape to the East Cape. It is most 
plentiful on the islands at the entrance to the Hauraki Gulf, and occurs freely 
on Waiheke and other islands in the Gulf. It is rare on the west coast, but one 
or two specimens occur on the shores of the Manukau Harbour, possibly planted 
by the Maoris. | 
It is usually confined to littoral situations, but a few small trees were 
observed on the Little Barrier Island at an elevation of 1,80o0ft. or upwards. 
This species is better known to New Zealand botanists under the name 
Safota costata, under which it was described by A. De Candolle. 
DESCRIPTION. 
sideroxylon costatum, F. Mueller. 
Sapota costaia, A. DC. 
_ Achras costata, Endl. 
A. Novo-Zelandica, F. Mueller. | . | 
An erect evergreen tree, 2o0ft. to 6oft. high, sometimes with a spreading 
head. Branchlets and petioles hoary with appressed down, lactescent. Leaves — 
alternate, exstipulate, obovate or obovate-oblong, obtuse, entire, glabrous. — 
Flowers axillary, solitary or, rarely, in pairs; peduncles rather stout, less than 
din. long, pubescent. Calyx inferior, deeply four-lobed; lobes ciliated; corolla 
slightly exceeding the calyx, four-lobed. Stamens, four, on short fleshy filaments, 
inserted on the corolla; ovary four-celled, silky, each cell containing a single 
suspended ovule. Fruit, rin. long, one- to four-celled, one- to four-seeded. 
Seeds crescent-shaped, #in. long, bony, polished, with copious endosperm. 
EXPLANATION OF PLaTE CXXXITI. 
Sideroxylon costatum, F. Mueller. (Safota costata, A. DC.) Specimens 
with perfect flowers, natural size. 1 and 2. Flower, natural size and magnified. 
3. Transverse section of a flower. 4. Corolla, laid open. 5. Pistil. All magni- 
fied. 6. Ripe fruit. 7. Transverse section of a fruit. 8. Seed. All natural 
size. 
