L. scoparium, Forst. Char. Gen. 72, t. 36.—A shrub or small tree, extremely variable in size, usually 6–18 ft. high, but sometimes dwarfed to a foot or two, occasionally reaching 20–25 ft. with a trunk 12–18 in. diam.; branches fastigiate or spreading; branchlets and young leaves silky. Leaves ⅙–½ in. long, variable in shape, linear or linear-lanceolate to broadly ovate, sessile, rigid, concave, acute and pungent-pointed, veinless, dotted, erect or spreading, rarely recurved. Flowers sessile, solitary, axillary or terminating the branchlets, ¼–½ in. diam. Calyx-tube broadly turbinate; lobes orbicular, deciduous. Petals orbicular, slightly clawed. Capsule woody, persistent, half sunk in the calyx-tube, which forms a rim round it, the free portion 5-valved.—A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 337; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 553; Raoul, Choix, 49; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 69; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 69; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 117; Students' Fl. 157.

Var. linifolium, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 69.—Leaves narrow linear-lanceolate.

Var. myrtifolium, Hook, f. l.c.—Leaves ovate, spreading or recurved.

Var. parvum, Kirk, Students' Fl. 158.—1–3 ft. high. Leaves ⅛ in. long, ovate, spreading. Flowers smaller, ⅛–⅙ in.

Var. prostratum, Hook. f. l.c.—Small, often prostrate, branches ascending at the tips. Leaves ovate or almost orbicular, recurved. A mountain form.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands: Abund ant throughout, ascending to 3500 ft. Manuka; Tea-tree. October–April. Also plentiful in Australia and Tasmania.

Too well known to need comment here. The wood is dark-red, hard and durable, and is applied to a variety of purposes, but can seldom be obtained of large size. An infusion of the leaves has been used in the place of tea.

L. ericoides, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 338.—A shrub or tree 20–60 ft. high, with a trunk 1–3 ft. diam.; bark loose, papery; branchlets slender, glabrous or the younger sparingly silky. Leaves fascicled or alternate, ⅙–½ in. long, very narrow-linear or linear-lanceolate, sometimes narrow linear-spathulate, acute but not pungent, concave, veinless, dotted, glabrous or slightly silky; margins often ciliate when young. Flowers ⅛–¼ in. diam., axillary, solitary or fascicled, usually produced in great profusion; pedicels short, glabrous or silky. Calyx-tube turbinate; lobes ovate, acute, persistent. Petals orbicular, shortly clawed. Capsule small, turbinate, wholly included within the calyx-tube.—A. Cunn. Precur. n. 554; Raoul, Choix, 49; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 70; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 70; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 69; Students' Fl. 158.

Var. lineatum, Kirk, l.c.— Smaller and more slender, 2–12 ft. high, usually more silky. Leaves narrower, 1/30–1/20 in. broad. Flowers smaller, ⅛ in. diam.

North and South Islands: Abundant from the North Cape to the Bluff, ascending to 3000 ft. Var. lineatum, from the North Cape to the Auckland Isthmus. Kanuka; Maru. November–January.

Easily distinguished from the preceding by its greater size, narrower leaves, smaller Flowers, and much smaller capsules, which are entirely included in the calyx-tube. Wood durable; much used for piles, house-blocks, posts and rails, &c.

L. Sinclairii, T. Kirk, Students' Fl. 158.—A small prostrate or suberect shrub 1–5 ft. high; branches spreading; young shoots, leaves, pedicels, and calyces hoary with appressed silky hairs. Leaves ¼–½ in. long, linear-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, acute, flat or concave. Flowers larger than in L. ericoides, ¼ in. diam., on longer pedicels, often crowded towards the ends of the branchlets, forming rounded heads. Calyx-tube narrow-turbinate; lobes oblong or ovate, acute or obtuse, persistent. Petals obovate, clawed. Capsule narrow-turbinate, more deeply sunk within the calyx-tube than in L. ericoides.

North Island: Three Kings Islands, T. F. C.; Great Barrier Island, Hutton. and Kirk! Sea-level to 1800 ft. November–January.

This is very close to L. ericoides. Its distinguishing characters are the smaller size, broader and flatter silky-hoary leaves, larger flowers, and more deeply sunk capsules.