branches of young trees weak, slender. Leaves of young plants usually distichous, spreading, 1–1½ in. long, narrow linear-lanceolate; of mature trees inserted all round the branches, close-set, ¾–1 in. long, linear or linear-lanceolate, acute, pungent, rigid and coriaceous, midrib somewhat prominent beneath. Flowers dioecious. Male flowers as in P. Totara, but usually solitary and distinctly peduncled. Female flowers frequently geminate on the short peduncle. Fruit narrow-ovoid, pointed; peduncle usually enlarged and succulent.—P. Totara var. Hallii, Pilger, Pfianzenreich, iv. 5, 84.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island: In forests from Kaitaia and Mongonui southwards, not uncommon. Sea-level to 3500 ft.
I am very doubtful as to this being more than a variety of P. Totara, which is the view held by Dr. Pilger. Young plants are easily distinguished by the weak and often flexuous branches and larger leaves; but it must be confessed that the mature foliage so closely resembles that of P. Totara that it is often difficult to separate the two plants by that character alone. The thin papery bark is, however, unmistakable. I fear that the shape of the fruit and the length of the peduncle of the male flower are subject to variation. The wood is similar to that of P. Totara, but is said to be inferior in durability. Mr. Kirk suggests that Colenso's P. Cunninghamii may be identical with P. Hallii; but the type specimen in Mr. Colenso's herbarium appears to be P. Totara.
3. P. acutifolius, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi. (1884) 370, t. 26.—An erect much-branched shrub 3–10 ft. high; branches slender, erect. Leaves usually rather lax, spreading, ⅓–1 in. long, linear, straight, acuminate and pungent, sessile or nearly so, green, coriaceous; midrib indistinct; margins slightly recurved. Flowers diœcious. Males ⅓–½ in. long, solitary or in fascicles of 2–4 at the top of an erect peduncle about ½ in. long, each flower with 4 scarious acuminate bracts at its base, forming a quasi involucre at the top of the peduncle. Anthers numerous, closely packed; connective obtuse. Female flowers minute, axillary, solitary or very rarely geminate at the top of a short swollen peduncle. Fruit small, ovoid, seated on the enlarged and fleshy bright-red peduncle.—Forest Fl. t. 39; Pilger, Pflanzenreich, iv. 5, 84.
South Island: Marlborough—Rutland! Mount Duppa, Macmahon! Nelson—Lake Rotoiti and upper part of the Buller Valley, Kirk! T.F.C.; Hope Valley, T.F.C. 1500–3000 ft.
Allied to P. nivalis, but at once recognised by the erect slender habit and narrow pungent leaves. From P. Totara it is separated by the small size, much more slender habit, and narrower thinner leaves.
4. P. nivalis, Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 582.—A much-branched erect or prostrate shrub 2–8 ft. high; branches wide-spreading, often rooting at the base. Leaves close-set, sessile, not distichous, spreading or recurved, ¼–⅔ in. long, linear to linear-oblong or narrow linear-obovate, obtuse, apiculate, narrowed to the base, very thick and coriaceous, midrib prominent beneath, margins thickened. Flowers diœcious. Males axillary, solitary or 2–4 at the top of
