592 MYRTACEAE. | Metrosideros. 
Nortu Istanp: Summit of Mount Hobson, Great Barrier Island, W. R. B. Oliver ! 
Sout Istanp: Nelson—Wakamarina Ranges, Anatore Ranges, Heaphy River, W. S. 
Hayward! J. Dall! Buller Valley, Nine-mile Creek, R. J. Kingsley! Mount Rochfort, 
W. Townson! Westland—Southern end of the Paparoa Range, near Greymouth, 
abundant, particularly on the slopes of Mounts Sewell and Davy, P. G. Morgan ! 
Sea-level to 3000 ft. December—January. 
A very handsome plant, which has the most restricted range of any of the New 
Zealand species. Its recent discovery by Mr. Oliver on the Great Barrier island, quite 
350 miles from the nearest of its southern habitats, affords a remarkable instance of 
discontinuous ary ee ' Rk i Te Oy we &. S69 | Ba. okay 
tt. Beek Se ey, sm, See Apel, P-3422,, 
> Dare ‘ee 2 
“» 4. M., albiflora Sol. ex Gaertn® Fruct. i (1788) 172, t. 34, f. 11.—A much- 
branched woody climber, glabrous in all its parts ; branchlets terete, slender, 
often drooping. Leaves decussate, 14-34in. long, elliptic-lanceolate or 
elliptic-ovate, acute or acuminate, glossy above, very coriaceous, narrowed 
\ at the base into a short stout petiole. Flowers white, in terminal 
much-branched paniculate cymes; jedicels pubescent. Calyx narrow- 
campanulate or almost tubular; lobes 5, ovate, obtuse, persistent. Petals 
exceeding the calyx-lobes, white, orbicular. Stamens and style filiform, 
3-i1n. long. Ovary adnate to the base of the calyx, 3-celled. Capsule 
¢-3 In. long, splitting to the base into 3 valves when mature, urceolate, 
globose and 3-lobed below, crowned by the much narrower tubular calyx, 
é , the lobes of which are sharply reflexed at the top—Hook. /. Fl. Nov. Zel. i 
* (1853) 67; Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 71; T. Kirk Students’ Fl. (1899) 161 : 
, Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 164; ll. N.Z. Fl. i (1914) t. 50. 
) M. diffusa A. Cunn. Precur. (1839) n. 560 (not of Smith); Hook. Ic. Plant, 
5 (1848) t. 569. 
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Nortu Isuanp: Forests from Mangonui and Hokianga southwards to the Kast 
Cape, but often local. Ascends to 2800 ft. December—January. 
| A very handsome species, easily recognized by the large broad leaves and large 
panicles of white flowers. 
? 5. M. diffusa Sm. an Trans. Linn. Soc. iii (1797) 268.—A tall and stout 
woody climber reaching the tops of the highest trees; young branchlets, 
inflorescence, and calyces pubescent or setose. Leaves 2-14 in. long, 
very shortly petioled, elliptic-oblong or ovate-oblong or ovate, obtuse or 
subacute, very coriaceous. Flowers very abundantly produced, bright- 
crimson, in terminal or rarely axillary much-branched cymes. Calyx- 
tube narrow-oblong, suddenly expanded into a broad cup-shaped limb ; 
lobes 5, broadly oblong, persistent. Petals orbicular, shortly clawed ; 
margins usually fimbriate or jagged. Ovary wholly adnate to the base 
of the calyx-tube. Capsule din. long, globose, rather coriaceous, 3- or 
6-ribbed, 3-celled, loculicidally dehiscing to the base, crowned by the short 
cup-shaped calyx-limb.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i (1853) 67: Handb. N.Z. Fl. 
» (1864) 71; 7. Kirk Students’ Fl. (1899) 161; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 
164; fll. N.Z. Fl. i (1914) t. 48. 
s 
Norra IsLanp : Not uncommon in forests from Mangonui and Ahipara to the East 
Cape and Taranaki. Sea-level to 2000 ft. Septem ber—October. 
A most brilliant Sant when in full bloom, well worthy of cultivation, For some - 
remarks as to the validity of the name “ diffusa” as applied to this plant, reference 
should be made to my “ Illustrations of the New Zealand Flora,” t. 48. 
