Page:Manual of the New Zealand Flora.djvu/207

A noble and picturesque tree, very abundant on the rocky cliffs and headlands of the northern portion of the North Island. Banks and Solander recorded it from Totarauui (Queen Charlotte Sound) in the South Island; but this is probably an error. The wood is largely employed for shipbuilding and other purposes requiring strength, hardness, and durability.

10. M. villosa, Sm. in Trans. Linn. Soc. iii. (1797) 268.—A much-branched tree 20–60ft. high, trunk 1–4 ft. diam.; branchlets, undersurface of leaves, inflorescence, and calyces densely covered with white tomentum. Leaves decussate, ¾–2 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, exceeding the calyx-lobes. Stamens ½–¾ in. long. Ovary 3-celled, adnate to the base of the calyx-tube. Capsule ¼ in. long, half-superior, woody, tomentose, girt at the middle by the persistent calyx-limb, the free portion loculicidally 3-valved.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 163. M. polymorpha, Gaud. in Freyc. Voy. Bot. 482, t. 85; Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 73; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 119.

Kermadec Islands: 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 Island variety.

11. M. scandens, Sol. ex Gærtn. Fruct. i. 172, t. 34, f. 10.—A tall woody climber, reaching the tops of the highest trees; branches numerous, spreading, terete; branchlets tomentose or setose. Leaves distichous, sessile, ⅓–½ 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, ⅓ in. long. Ovary 3–celled, adnate to the base of the calyx-tube, and sunk in it during the flowering stage. Capsule globose, 1/6 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. 69; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 73; Kirk, Students' Fl. 163. M. perforata, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 334. M. buxifolia, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 556; Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 4515. M. vesiculata, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi. (1884) 327. M. tenuifolia. Col. l.c. xxiv. (1892) 386. Melaleuca perforata, Forst. Prodr. n. 212. Leptospermum perforatum, Forst. Char. Gen. 72.