¼–⅓ in. long, linear, obtuse, sessile by a comparatively broad base, flat, coriaceous; midrib usually distinct. Leaves on the upper and fertile branches small and scale-like, densely quadrifariously appressed, 125–112 long, triangular, obtuse, very thick and coriaceous. Flowers diœcious. Males solitary, terminal, sessile, 110–18 in. long. Female flowers near the tips of the branchlets. Nuts 1 or 2, small, striate, compressed, obtuse, about 112 in. long.—Forest Fl. t. 37; Pilger in Pflanzenreich, iv. 5, 46.
Var. a, erecta, Kirk.—Main branches ascending or erect, giving the plant a pyramidal or almost fastigiate outline.
Var. b, reclinata, Kirk.—Main branches prostrate or horizontal.
North Island: Summit of Moehau (Cape Colville), Adams! Ruahine Mountains, Colenso! Lake Rotoaira, Tryon! Ruapehu, Rev. F. H. Spencer! South Island, Stewart Island: Not uncommon in subaipine localities throughout. Usually from 2000–4500 ft., but descending to sea-level in Stewart Island.
A near ally of D. biforme, principally differing in the smaller size and remarkably distinct habit, in the smaller linear leaves, which are sessile by a broad base, and in the more slender branchlets and smaller nut. When seen growing it is distinguished without any difficulty, but dried specimens not showing the linear leaves are easily confounded with slender states of D. biforme.
4. D. cupressinum, Soland. ex Forst. Pl. Escul. 80.—A tall forest-tree 60–80 ft. or even 100 ft. high, with a comparatively small round-topped head when mature, but pyramidal when young, with very long pale-green pendulous branches; trunk 2–5 ft. diam.; bark dark-brown, scaling off in large flakes. Leaves imbricating all round the branch; of young trees lax, ascending, ⅙–¼ in. long, linear-subulate, acute, almost acerose, decurrent at the base; gradually passing into those of the mature trees, which are much smaller and more closely set and more appressed to the branch, 112–18 in. long, linear, acute, trigonous, keeled at the back. Flowers diœcious. Males solitary or rarely 2 together at the tips of the branchlets, oblong; connective broadly ovate, acuminate. Female flowers solitary on the curved tips of the branchlets. Nut ovoid, barely compressed, about ⅛ in. long, seated within a cup-shaped aril; receptacle and bracts sometimes enlarged, fleshy and coloured, at other times remaining dry and unaltered.—A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 361; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 332; Raoul, Choix, 41; Hook. f. FL. Nov. Zel. i. 233; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 258; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 18-22; Pilger in Pflanzenreich, iv. 5, 53. Thalamia cupressina, Spreng. Syst. iii. 890.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Abundant in forests throughout. Sea-level to 2500 ft. Rimu; Red-pine.
A well-known tree, the young state of which, with its graceful shape and pale-green pendent branches, is perhaps as beautiful and attractive as any tree
