Meirosideros.| MYRTACEAE. 595 
10. M. villosa Sm. in Trans. Linn. Soc. iii (1797) 268—A much- 
branched tree 20-60 ft. high, trunk 1-4 ft. diam. ; branchlets, under-surface 
of leaves, inflorescence, and calyces densely covered with white tomentum. 
Leaves decussate, 3-2 in. long, broadly ovate or broadly oblong, sometimes 
almost orbicular, obtuse at both ends, very coriaceous ; margins recurved ; 
petioles short, stout. Flowers scarlet, in small terminal many-flowered 
cymes ; peduncles and pedicels short, stout. Calyx-tube broadly obconic ; 
lobes short, deltoid, with a gland at the tip. Petals broadly oblong, exceed- 
ing the calyx-lobes. Stamens }-3in. long. Ovary 3-celled, adnate to the 
base of the calyx-tube. Capsule }in. long, half-superior, woody, tomentose, 
girt at the middle by the persistent calyx-limb, the free portion loculicidally 
3-valved.—T. Kirk Students’ Fl. (1899) 163; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. FI. 
(1906) 167; Oliver in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xlii (1910) 187. M. polymorpha 
Gaud. mm Freyc. Voy. Bot. (1826) 482, t. 85; Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 
(1864) 73; 7. Kirk Forest Fl. (1889) t. 119. 
KermMapec Istanns: Sunday Island, the most abundant tree, ascending to the 
tops of the hills, altitude 1700 ft. August—December. 
A common plant in many of the Polynesian islands, varying greatly in size, shape 
of the leaves, presence or absence of tomentum, &c. The above description refers solely 
to the Kermadec Jslands variety. 
Dees 1976 
11. Ms-seandens Sol. ex Gaertn. Fruct. 1 (1788) 172, t. 34, f. 10.— Gas, 
A tall woody climber, reaching the tops of the highest trees; branches 
numerous, spreading, terete; branchlets tomentose or setose. Leaves 
distichous, sessile, 4-3 in. long, broadly ovate or broadly oblong to orbicular, 
obtuse, very coriaceous, glabrous and shining above; paler, glandular- 
punctate and often pilose beneath: margins recurved. Flowers small, 
white, in pedunculate 3-flowered cymes crowded towards the ends of the 
branches, forming a leafy terminal panicle ; peduncles and pedicels pubescent. 
Calyx-tube short, broadly turbinate; lobes short and broad, obtuse, 
persistent. Petals orbicular, white. Stamens slender, 4in. long. Ovary 
3-celled, adnate to the base of the calyx-tube, and sunk in it during the 
flowering stage. Capsule globose, in. diam., half-superior, girt round 
the middle by the persistent calyx-limb, the free portion loculicidally 
3-valved.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i (1853) 69; Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 73 ; 
L. Kirk Students’ Fl. (1899) 163; Cheesem Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 167. 
M. perforata A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. (1832) 334. M. buxifolia A. Cunn. 
Precur. (1859) n. 556; Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 4515. M. vesiculata Col. in Trans. 
N.Z. Inst. xvi (1884) 327. M. tenuifolia Col. lc. xxiv (1892) 386. 
Melalenca perforata Forst. f. Rrodr. (1786) n. 212. Leptospermum per- 
foratum Porst. Char. Gen. (1776) 72. 
NortH Istanp: Abundant in lowland forests throughout. Sour Isuanp: 
Lowland districts in Nelson and Marlborough, not uncommon. Westland—Near 
Greymouth, P. @. Morgan! Okarito, near the sea, Cockayne ; Martin’s Bay, 
Poppelwell, W. A. Thomson ! Sea-level to 2000 ft. Aka. January—March. 
Weak, Mae. C ar , ws 193 ) 
On she ontierh side of New Zealand I have seen no spelt Dich ee south 
than Marlborough, but it has been recorded from Banks Peninsula and the Auckland 
Islands—TI believe, erroneously. Mr. Colenso’s M. tenwifolia, as proved by the type 
specimens in his herbarium, is based upon the young plant, which has slender glabrous 
stems and almost membranous leaves. His M. vesiculata is a state in which the glands 
on the under-surface of the leaves and calyces are more conspicuous than usual. 
