M. Florida, Sm. in Trans. Linn. Soc. iii. (1797) 269.—Usually a tall woody climber, reaching the tops of lofty trees; stems long, cable-like, often 3–6 in. diam.; bark loose, separating in large Flakes. Leaves 1½–3 in. long, shortly petioled, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, coriaceous, glabrous; midrib stout. Flowers orange-red, in few- or many-flowered terminal simple or branched cymes. Calyx obconic or turbinate, glabrous, produced beyond the ovary. Petals orbicular, yellowish-red. Stamens scarlet, very numerous, ¾–1 in. long. Ovary completely adnate with the base of the calyx-tube, 3-celled. Capsule deeply sunk within the persistent calyx, and with it forming a woody urceolate 5-ribbed fruit ½–¾ in., long, usually dehiscing by 3 valves within the calyx.—A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 333; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 559; Raoul, Choix, 49; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 66, t. 15; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 70; Kirk, Forest; page 163Fl. 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 2500 ft. 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.

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. 78. 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 3500 ft. Mountain-rata. December–January.

Wood extremely strong, hard, heavy, and durable; useful for shipbuilding, &c.

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.

South Island: Nelson—Wakamarina Ranges, near Collingwood; Anatori Ranges; Heaphy River, W. S. Hayward! J. Dall! Buller Valley, Nine-mile Creek, R. J. Kingsley! Mount Rochfort, not uncommon, altitude 1000–2500 ft., W.Townson! Sea-level to 3000 ft. December–January.

A very handsome plant, which has the most restricted range of any of the New Zealand species.

M. albiflora, Sol. ex Gœrtn. Fruct. i. 172, t. 34, f. 11.—A much-branched woody climber, glabrous in all its parts; branchlets terete, slender, often drooping. Leaves decussate, 1½–3½ in. long, elliptic-lanceolate or elliptic-ovate, acute or acuminate, glossy above, very coriaceous, narrowed at the base into a short stout petiole. Flowers white, in terminal much-branched paniculate cymes; pedicels pubescent. Calyx narrow-campanulate or almost tubular; lobes 5, ovate, obtuse, persistent. Petals exceeding the calyx-lobes, white, orbicular. Stamens and style filiform, ½–¾ in. long. Ovary adnate to the base of the calyx, 3-celled. Capsule ¼–⅓ in. long, splitting to the base into 3 valves when mature, urceo-late, globose and 3-lobed below, crowned by the much narrower tubular calyx, the lobes of which are sharply reflexed at the top.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 67; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 71; Kirk, Students Fl. 161. M. diffusa, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 560 (not of Smith); Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 569.

North Island: Forests from Mongonui and Hokianga southwards to the-East Cape, but often local. Ascends to 2800 ft. December–January.

A very handsome species, easily recognised by the large broad leaves and large panicles of white Flowers.

M. diffusa, Sm. in Trans. Linn. Soc. iii. (1797) 268.—A tall and stout woody climber reaching the tops of the highest trees; young branchlets, inflorescence, and calyces pubescent or setose. Leaves ¾–1½ in. long, very shortly petioled, elliptic-oblong or ovate-oblong or ovate, obtuse or subacute, very coriaceous. Flowers very abundantly produced, bright-crimson, in terminal or rarely axillary much-branched cymes. Calyx-tube narrow-oblong, suddenly expanded into a broad cup-shaped limb; lobes 5, broadly oblong, persistent. Petals orbicular, shortly clawed; margins usually fimbriate or jagged. Ovary wholly adnate to the base of the calyx-tube. Capsule ⅓ in. long, globose, rather coriaceous, 3- or 6-ribbed, 3-celled, loculicidally dehiscing to the base, crowned by the short cup-shaped calyx-limb.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 67; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 71; Kirk, Students' Fl. 161.

North Island: Not uncommon in forests from Mongonui and Ahipara to the East Cape and Taranaki. Sea-level to 2000 ft. September–October. A most brilliant plant when in full bloom, well worthy of cultivation.

M. hypericifolia, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 562.—A climbing shrub; branches slender, spreading, obscurely tetragonous, usually minutely pubescent. Leaves distichous, ⅓–1 in. long, oblong-lan ceolate or ovate-lanceolate or ovate-oblong, acute or apiculate or page 165obtuse, rounded at the base, sessile, rather membranous, glabrous or slightly silky when young. Flowers small, pink or whitish-pink, in small lateral few-flowered cymes or racemes; pedicels slender, glabrous or pubescent. Calyx-tube pyriform, suddenly expanded into a short and broad cup-shaped limb; lobes 5, ovate-triangular. Petals orbicular, shortly clawed, exceeding the calyx-lobes. Stamens slender, ⅓ in. long. Ovary wholly adnate to the base of the calyx-tube. Capsule small, ⅛–⅙ in. long, globose, 3-lobed, crowned by the funnel-shaped calyx-limb, loculicidally 3-valved to the base.—Raoul, Choix, 49; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 67, t. 16; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 71; Kirk, Students' Fl. 161. M. subsimilis, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xii. (1880) 361.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Abundant in forests from the North Cape southwards. Sea-level to 2000 ft. November–January.

The smallest species of the genus. The flowers are occasionally quite white, and are always produced on the old wood, never terminal.

M. Colensoi, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 68.—A slender climbing shrub with numerous very slender leafy terete or obscurely tetragonous branches; branchlets densely pubescent or setose. Leaves distichous, often imbricating, sessile or very shortly petioled, ⅓–¾ in. long, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, rounded at the base, almost membranous, densely pubescent when young, often becoming almost glabrous when mature. Flowers small, pink or whitish, in terminal or lateral trichotomous cymes which are rarely more than 1½ in. long; peduncles and pedicels, silky-pubescent. Calyx-tube funnel-shaped, much longer than the ovary, pubescent; lobes small, narrow-triangular, acute, as long as or slightly longer than the small orbicular petals. Ovary wholly adnate to the base of the calyx-tube. Capsule small, ⅙–⅕ in. long, globose, 3-lobed, crowned by the long funnel-shaped calyx-limb, loculicidally 3-valved to the base.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 72; Kirk Students' Fl. 162.

Var. pendens, Kirk, l.c.—Branchlets much more slender, almost filiform, pendulous. Flowers white.—M. pendens, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xii. (1880) 360.

North and South Islands: In forests from the Bay of Islands (Hand book) to Nelson and Marlborough, but far from common. December–January.

Allied to the preceding species, but easily distinguished by the much more slender habit, pubescent branchlets, and by the thinner much more acuminate and usually pubescent leaves. I have seen no specimens from the north of the Waikato River.

M. robusta, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 557.—A tall and stout forest-tree, 60–80 or even 100 ft. high; trunk irregular, 3–8 ft. diam. or more; branches spreading, forming a huge rounded head; branchlets 4-angled, puberulous. Leaves decussate, 1–1½ in. long, elliptic-oblong or ovate-oblong or elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse, glabrous, page 166very coriaceous; petioles short, stout, glabrous or puberulous. Flowers dark-scarlet, very abundantly produced, in broad and dense terminal many-flowered cymes; peduncles and pedicels short, stout, pubescent. Calyx-tube short, obconic; lobes short and broad, triangular. Petals exceeding the calyx-lobes, orbicular. Ovary adnate to the base of the calyx-tube and included within it during the flowering stage. Capsule small, oblong, ¼–⅓ in. long, half-superior, girt round the middle by the rim of the calyx-tube, the free upper part loculicidally 3-valved.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 68, t. 17; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 72; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 128; Students' Fl. 162. M. florida, Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 4471 (not of Smith).

Var. retusa, Kirk, l.c.—Leaves shorter, ½–¾ in. long, elliptic, rounded at both ends, retuse.—Two specimens in Mr. Kirk's herbarium, from Lowry Bay, Wellington.

North and South Islands: Abundant in forests from the North Cape southwards to Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland. Sea-level to 3000 ft. Rata. December–January.

A magnificent tree, sometimes reaching a gigantic size, specimens having been measured with trunks over 20 ft. diam. It usually (but not invariably) commences life as an epiphyte in the upper branches of some tall forest-tree, sending to the ground aerial roots, which coalesce and form a trunk after the death of the supporting plant. [unclear: Terrestrial] specimens are frequently seen, but these either have no trunk at all, keeping during life the habit of a much-branched bushy shrub, or produce a short, straight trunk of no great size. The timber is strong, hard, and durable, and is much employed for [unclear: wheelwrights'] work, framework for machinery, wagons, &c., and for shipbuilding.

M. tomentosa, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 336, t. 37.—Usually a much-branched tree 30–70 ft. high, with a short stout trunk 2–5 ft. diam., and large wide-spreading branches, but sometimes dwarfed to a few feet in height; branchlets stout, terete, tomentose. Leaves decussate, very variable in size and shape, 1–4 in. long, lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate to oblong or broadly oblong, acute or obtuse, rounded at the base, very thick and coriaceous, usually clothed with white tomentum beneath, rarely glabrous; margins flat or recurved; petioles short, stout. Flowers large, dark-crimson, in broad terminal many-flowered cymes; peduncles and pedicels stout, and with the calyces clothed with dense white tomentum. Calyx-tube obconic; lobes short, deltoid. Petals oblong, obtuse, exceeding the calyx-tube. Stamens numerous, 1¼–1½ in. long. Ovary 3-celled, adnate to the base of the calyx-tube, and sunk within it during the flowering stage. Capsule ⅓ in. long, half-superior, woody, tomentose, girt round the middle by the persistent calyx-limb, the free upper part loculicidally 3-valved.—A. Cunn. Precur. n. 558; Raoul, Choix, 49; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 68; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 72; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 118; Students' Fl. 163.

North Island: Abundant along the coast from the Three Kings Islands and the North Cape to Poverty Bay and Urenui (Taranaki). Inland at Lake Tarawera, Lake Taupo, and Waikaremoana. Sea-level to 2000 ft. Pohu-tukawa; Christmas-tree. December–January.

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 Totaranui (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.

. M. villosa, Sm. in Trans. Linn. Soc. iii. (1797) 268.—A much-branched tree 20–60 ft. 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.

M. scandens, Sol. ex Gœrtn. 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, ⅙ 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.

North and South Islands: Abundant in forests from the Three Kings Islands and North Cape to Marlborough and Nelson. Sea-level to 2000 ft. Aka. January–March.

I have seen no specimens from further south than Marlborough, but it has been recorded from Banks Peninsula and the Auckland Islands, I believe erroneously. Mr. Colenso's M. tenuifolia, 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 undersurface of the leaves and calyces are more conspicuous than usual.