Leptospermum. | MYRTACEAE. 589 
One of the most widely distributed plants in the Dominion, found in almost all soils 
and situations. In the northern half of the North Island it is the dominant species 
over large areas of poor clay soils, and having been * burnt off” time after time by the 
diggers of kauri-gum in order to facilitate their operations, In Many sa Sie now forms 
an open heath-like vegetation from 5 to 10 ft. high, often stretching tor many miles. 
When left alone, this gradually develops into a taller growth, reaching a height of 15 
to 25ft. Finally, by the gradual appearance of young forest-trees among the Lepto- 
spermum the beginning of a mixed-forest growth is seen, which ultimately supersedes the 
Leptospermum. 
L. scoparium is an exceedingly variable plant. Hooker, in his “Flora Novae-Zelan- 
diae,” characterized 4 varieties; but I agree with Dr. Cockayne that these do not 
constitute permanent forms. Of ‘late several red-flowered varieties have been detected, 
and are now commonly cultivated ; as also a form with double white flowers. 
2. L. ericoides A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. (1832) 338.—A shrub or 
tree 20-60ft. high, with a trunk 1-3ft. diam.; bark loose, papery ; 
branchlets slender, glabrous or the younger sparingly silky. Leaves fascicled 
or alternate, 4-1 in, long, very narrow-linear or linear-lanceolate, sometimes 
narrow linear-spathulate, acute but not pungent, concave, veinless, dotted, 
glabrous or slightly silky; margins often ciliate when young. Flowers 
1 lin. diam., axillary, solitary or fascicled, usually produced im great 
profusion ; pedicels short, glabrous or silky. Calyx-tube turbinate ; lobes 
ovate, acute, persistent. Petals orbicular, shortly clawed. Capsule small, 
turbinate, wholly included within the calyx-tube—A. Cunn. Precur, (1839) 
n. 554; Raoul Choix (1846) 49; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i (1853) 70; Handb. 
N.Z. Fl. (1864) 70; 7. Kirk Forest Fl. (1889) t. 69; Students’ Fl. (1899) 
158; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 161. 
Var. lineatum 7. Kirk Students’ Fl. (1899) 158.—Smaller and more slender, 2-12 ft. 
high, usually more silky. Leaves narrower, 34-34 in. broad. Flowers smaller, § in. 
diam.—L. lineatum Cockayne in Report on Dune Areas of N.Z. (1911) 38. 
Nortu anp SoutH Isuanps: Abundant from the North Cape to the Bluff, ascending 
to 3000 ft. Var. Jineatum, from the North Cape to the Auckland Isthmus. Kanuka ; 
Maru. November—January. 
Easily distinguished from the preceding by its greater size, narrower leaves, smaller 
flowers, and much smaller capsules, which are entirely included in the calyx-tube. Wood 
durable ; much used for piles, house-blocks, posts and rails, &c. 
3. L. Sinelairii 7. Kirk Students’ Fl. (1899) 158.—A small prostrate 
or suberect shrub 1-5 ft. high; branches spreading; young shoots, 
leaves, pedicels, and calyces hoary with appressed silky hairs. Leaves 
11in. long, linear-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, acute, flat or concave. 
Flowers larger than in L. erzcoides, 4 in. diam., on longer pedicels, often 
crowded towards the ends of the branchlets, forming rounded heads. 
Calyx-tube narrow-turbinate; lobes oblong or ovate, acute or obtuse, 
persistent. Petals obovate, clawed. Capsule narrow-turbinate, more deeply 
sunk within the calyx-tube than in L. tricoides—Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 
(1906) 161; Jl. N.Z. Fl. 1 (1914) t. 47. 
NortrH [stanp: Three Kings Islands, 7. F. C.; Great Barrier Island, Hutton 
and 7’. Kirk / Sea-level to 1800 ft. November—January. 
_ This is very close to L. ericoides. Its distinguishing characters are the smaller 
size, broader and flatter silky-hoary leaves, larger flowers, and more deeply sunk 
capsules. 4 
