290 CORIARIA RUSCIFOLIA. 
increase rapidly in size until they cover the fertilised carpels by the time the 
stamens are fully developed no trace of the stigmas remains. The anthers now — 
liberate their pollen to fertilise other flowers, and droop over the margin of the 7 
persistent calyx until they wither, while the petals become swollen with purple. 
juice, and the seeds make rapid progress towards maturity. ; 
It is evident from this statement that the pistil must be fertilised by pollen 
from other flowers, either from the same or from another tree, self-fertilisation 
being next to impossible: it also affords an explanation of the reason why the 
earliest flowers of the plant do not produce seeds; there is no pollen available 
for their fertilisation. 
PROPERTIES AND USEs. 
No attempt has been made to utilise this plant, although there can be no 
reason to doubt that a valuable tanning extract could readily be obtained from — 
it. won analysis of the bark has RE that it contains 16°8 per cent. of tannin: 
but tannin is not confined to the bark; it is plentiful in both the old and 
young wood, so that the entire plant seta be utilised for the manufacture of the 
extract. If cultivated for the purpose, it would probably prove more profitable 
than the black wattle, as a much heavier return could be obtained per acre, and ~ 
it would flourish in situations unsuited to the wattle. The name of the genus 
is derived from the powerful tanning properties of Coriaria myrtifolia, which is — 
plentiful on the coasts of the Mediterranean, and is largely employed for this 
purpose. It cannot be too strongly insisted upon that the market for tanning 
extracts is widening every day, and, with the near exhaustion of the supply of 
hemlock extract frome America, aoa is no probability of its being glutted. It 
is most desirable that the rn eit of tanning extracts from ee and other — 
native trees should be commenced without further delay, as for many years to 
come the New Zealand tanners would be able to take all that could be placed 
on the market, instead of importing barks and extracts from other countries. 
The wood affords a useful dye for all tints, from a neutral grey to a pure — 
black, when treated in the same manner as logwood. Mr. Skey considers its 
dyeing properties to be due to the abundance of tannin contained in the plant.* 
A striking instance of the deadly nature of tutu poison was afforded a few 
years ago, heh an elephant which had been landed in Otago was marched 
inland SS its owner. On arriving at a spot where the grass was luxuriant the 
owner allowed the animal to feed ; unfortunately, a quantity of young succulent — 
tutu was growing amongst the grass. After feeding for four hours, the elephant — 
drank ata Helehboeriey creek, ad began to reel, fell on his side, and died after 
about three Rote ase that only seven hours clapeeu between the time the 
animal began feeding and his death. : 
The poisonous principle resides in all parts of the plant, but is most 
plentiful in the young shoots and in the seeds. Mr. H. G. Hughes, M.P.S., of | 
Hokitika, is of opinion that young woody shoots yield a more virulent poisom 
than that obtained from succulent shoots, and Mr. Colenso states that the Scag 
from fruits with less juicy petals are non-poisonous. Tutu poisoning results it 
partial paralysis of the brain, convulsions, delirium, and death: the affecte de 
animal reels or staggers and ultimately falls, exhibiting symptoms of the ‘most 
intense distress. 3 
In 1869 Mr. Skey, the Colonial Analyst, made a careful examination of the 
constituents of the plant, and, so far as his experiments went, the poisonous i 
principle appears to exist in a peculiar oil, if, indeed, it be not the oil itself. 
* Trans. N.Z. Inst., Vol. 11., p. 243. 
