; 
CORIARIA RUSCIFOLIA, Linné. 
THE TUTU. 
ORDER—CORIARIESA. 
(Plate CXXXIX.) 
I rearn from Mr. Colenso that this plant is the tupakihi of the northern Natives, 
and the tutu of those in the South: the latter is the name by which it is most 
generally known to settlers. When in fruit the aspect of the plant is singularly 
handsome and striking: the pendulous racemes, sometimes exceeding rft. in 
length, of shining purplish-black fruit, present a most attractive appearance. 
It possesses special interest on account of its poisonous properties, which are far 
more deadly than that of any other plant in the colony, and cause numerous 
fatalities amongst sheep and cattle every year. It varies in habit from a sub- 
therbaceous bush or much-branched evergreen shrub to a small tree 25ft. high, 
with a trunk sometimes Ioin. in diameter, but is easily recognised in all its 
forms. The young shoots are angular, and frequently from Oft. to 8ft. long ; in 
the early state, before the leaves are fully developed, they resemble gigantic 
stems of asparagus. In the mature state the leaves are opposite, lin. to 3in. 
long and fin. or more broad, with leaf-stalks often undeveloped but never 
exceeding ;,1n. in length, deep-green, acute or, rarely, obtuse, with three or five 
primary nerves. The flowers are perfect, about jin. in diameter, arranged in 
long pendulous racemes frequently more than tft. in length; each flower is 
carried ona slender pedicel. The calyx consists of five green sepals, which are 
minutely toothed, and five small free petals—both sepals and petals being 
persistent. The stamens are ten in number, on short filaments, which elongate 
considerably after fertilisation has taken place. The pistil consists of five one- 
celled carpels, forming a whorl around the fleshy receptacle to which they are 
attached ; each carpel has a single cell containing a single ovule, and is crowned 
by a long red style, which is stigmatiferous for its entire length. In fruit the 
five petals become translucent, and are charged with purple juice, forming a 
sphere completely surrounding the ripe carpels: ultimately they are black and 
shining, and the pendulous racemes present a striking and handsome appearance 
amongst the green foliage. 
It has been stated that specimens have been found with all the parts of the 
flower in sixes: I never met with an instance of this remarkable divergence from 
the type.* 
The process of fertilisation is very interesting : as already stated, the flowers 
are perfect; on expansion the green anthers are erect, and form a close ring 
round the styles, but the filaments are undeveloped. In this state the stigmas 
are ready for the reception of the pollen, but the anthers of the same flower are 
not sufficiently mature to liberate the pollen which they contain, so that the 
fertilisation is effected by pollen brought by the wind from more advanced 
flowers. After fertilisation the styles quickly wither, and the minute petals 
* Trans, N,Z. Inst., Vol. x1x., p. 317. 
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