Fl. t. 127; Students' Fl. 160. M. speciosa, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxii. (1890) 463. M. aurata, Col. l.c. xxiii. (1891) 385. Melaleuca florida, Forst. Prodr. n. 214. Leptospermum scandens, Forst. Char. Gen. 72.
North and South Islands: Common from the Three Kings Islands and the North Cape to Nelson and Marlborough. Sea-level to 2500ft. Aka. February–June.
According to Mr. J. W. Hall, the capsules require a whole year to ripen their seeds. Mr. Colenso's M. aurata, which is kept up as a variety by Mr. Kirk, only differs in the yellow flowers. It has been noticed in several districts from Auckland to Collingwood, but not more than a single specimen has been found in each locality. It can only be considered an accidental sport.
2. M. lucida, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 333.—Usually a tall erect branching tree 30–60 ft. high, but often dwarfed to a small bush in subalpine or exposed localities; bark pale, papery; branchlets and young leaves silky. Leaves 1½–3 in. long, elliptic-lanceolate or lanceolate, acuminate, very coriaceous, pale glossy-green above, dotted with oil-glands beneath, narrowed into a short stout petiole. Flowers bright-crimson, in short broad cymes at the ends of the branches; peduncles and pedicels short, stout, silky. Calyx obconic, silky; lobes 5, ovate, obtuse. Petals oblong, exceeding the calyx-lobes. Stamens numerous, 1 in. long. Ovary sunk in the calyx-tube, 3-celled. Capsule ⅓ in. long, coriaceous, broadly urceolate, obscurely 5-ribbed, crowned by the persistent cup-shaped calyx-limb.—A. Cunn. Precur. n. 561; Raoul, Choix, 49; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 67; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 71; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 58; Students Fl. 160. M. umbellata, Cav. Ic. iv. 20, t. 337. Agalmanthus umbellatus, Homb. & Jacq. Voy. Astrol. et Zél. Melaleuca lucida, Forst. Prodr. n. 216.
North Island: In hilly or mountain districts from Whangarei and the Great and Little Barrier Islands southwards, but often local. South Island, Stewart Island, Auckland Islands: Abundant throughout. Campbell Island: Rare. Sea-level to 3500ft. Mountain-rata. December–January.
Wood extremely strong, hard, heavy, and durable; useful for shipbuilding, &c.
3. M. Parkinsonii, Buch. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xv. (1883) 339, t. 28, f. 2.—A much-branched shrub with straggling often prostrate branches, or a small tree 20–30 ft. high; trunk seldom more than 6–9 in. diam. Leaves 1–3 in. long, ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate or elliptic-ovate, acute or acuminate, rounded at the base, coriaceous, quite glabrous; petioles very short. Flowers bright-crimson, usually in dense paniculate cymes springing from the branches below the leaves, but sometimes terminating the branchlets as well. Calyx-tube turbinate, glabrous; lobes 5, ovate, triangular, obtuse. Stamens 1 in. long. Ovary sunk in the calyx-tube, 3-celled. Capsule ¼ in. long, coriaceous, broadly campanulate, obscurely 5-ribbed, crowned by the persistent cup-shaped calyx-limb.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 160.
