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Manual of the New Zealand Flora.

3. Podocarptus, L'Herit

3. Podocarptus, L'Herit.

Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate or opposite, scattered or imbricate or distichous, very diverse in size and shape. Flowers diœcious or rarely monoecious; males solitary or in fascicles of 2–5, or laxly spicate along an elongated rhachis, usually stipitate, the stipes furnished with imbricate bracts. Staminal column elongate, cylindric; anthers sessile, densely spirally crowded; cells 2, parallel, dehiscing longitudinally; connective usually prolonged into a short claw. Female flowers solitary or occasionally geminate, very rarely spicate; bracts or scales few, adnate with the rhachis into a swollen fleshy or succulent peduncle or "receptacle"; ovuliferous scale springing from the receptacle, ovoid, fleshy, bearing a single reversed ovule. Seeds globose or ovoid, seated on the enlarged receptacle, drupaceous or nut-like. Cotyledons 2.

About 60 species are known, scattered through the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, from Japan and China southwards to New Zealand and South Africa, also in most parts of South America; wanting in Europe, North America, North Africa, and western Asia. The New Zealand species are all endemic.

A. Flowers axillary.
* Male flowers solitary or 2–4 at the tip of a common peduncle.
Tree 40–100 ft.; bark thick. Leaves ½–1 in., linear, rigid and coriaceous, pungent. Male flowers subsessile. Nut small, obtuse 1. P. Totara.page 648
Tree 25–60 ft.; bark thin, papery. Leaves ¾–1½ in., linear, rigid and coriaceous, pungent. Male flowers evidently stalked. Nut acute 2. P. Hallii.
Erect shrub 3–10 ft.; branches slender. Leaves lax, ⅓–1 in. long, narrow-linear, pungent, thin 3. P. acutifolius.
Diffuse or prostrate shrub 2–8 ft.; branches stout. Leaves close-sec, ¼–⅔ in., linear-oblong, obtuse, thick and coriaceous 4. P. nivalis.
Tree 50–80 ft. Leaves distichous, ½–¾ in., linear, acute, falcate. Fruit large, broadly oblong, succulent, ¾ in. long 5. P. ferrugineus.
** Male flowers numerous, spiked.
Tree 40–80 ft. Leaves distichous, ⅓–½ in., linear, obtuse. Fruit globose, succulent, ¼–1–3 in. diam. 6. P. spicatus.
B. Flowers terminating the branchlets.
Tree 80–120 ft. Leaves of young trees distichous, ¼ in.; of mature plants imbricate all round, 1/12–⅛ in., subulate-lanceolate, acuminate 7. P. dacrydioides.
1.

P. Totara, D. Don. in Lamb. Pin. ed. ii. (1832) 189. — A lofty forest-tree 40–80 ft. or even 100 ft. high; trunk 2–6 ft. diam.; bark thick, furrowed, stringy and papery, capable of removal in large sheets. Leaves dull brownish-green, spreading on all sides or obscurely distichous, ½–1 in. long, linear, straight or slightly falcate, acute, pungent, rigid and coriaceous, midrib obscure. Flowers diœcious. Males ½–¾ in. long, stout, obtuse, axillary, solitary or 2–3 together at the top of a very short stout peduncle or almost sessile; each flower with 4 bracts at the base. Anthers numerous, crowded; connective toothed at the tip. Female flowers axillary, solitary or geminate at the top of a short swollen peduncle. Fruit ovoid-oblong, rounded at the tip; peduncle usually much enlarged, red, succulent; but occasionally dry and shrivelled.—A. Cunn. Precur. n. 328; Raoul, Choice, 41; Hook, in Lond. Journ. Pot. i. 572, t. 19; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 233; Eandb. N.Z. Fl. 258; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 115. Pilger, Pflanzenreich, iv. 5, 84. P. Bidwillii, Hoibrenk ex Endl. Conif. 213. P. Cunninghamii, Col. Visit to Ruahine Range, 58.

North and South Island: Common in forests from the North Cape to the south-east of Otago. Sea-level to 2000 ft. Totara.

A magnificent tree, scarcely less valuable than the kauri; but, unlike it, generally distributed throughout the colony. Wood red, straight - grained, compact, extremely durable, much used for all kinds of building purposes and constructive works. From its power of resisting the attacks of the teredo it is particularly valuable for the piles of wharves, &c. The huge war-canoes of the Maoris, which were often over 80 ft. in length, were carved from the trunks of totara-trees, and it was also the favourite timber for their carved houses.

2.

P. Hallii, T. Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 9, 9a. —Very closely allied to P. Totara, and perhaps a mere variety, but smaller, 25–60 ft. high; trunk rarely exceeding 3 ft. diam.; bark thin, papery; page 649branches 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-l in. long, linear or linear-lanceolate, acute, pungent, rigid and coriaceous, midrib somewhat prominent beneath. Flowers diœcious. 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, Pflanzenreich, 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, 1–3–1 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 page 650a slender peduncle, variable in length, very slender, ¼-l in. long. Anthers very numerous, often laxly placed; connective obtuse. Female flowers solitary, axillary, seated on the top of a short swollen peduncle. Fruit a small oblong-ovoid nut; peduncle much enlarged, fleshy and succulent, bright-red, usually with 2 acute projections at the top (adnate bracts), 1 on each side of the nut.— Raoul, Choix, 41; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 232; Handb. N.Z. FL 257; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 40; Pilger, Pflanzenreich, iv. 5, 85. P. montanus, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii. (1895) 395.

North and South Islands: Subalpine localities from the summit of Moehau (Cape Oolville) and Hikurangi southwards, not uncommon. 2000–5500 ft.

5.

P. ferrugineus, D. Don. in Lamb. Gen. Pinet. ed. ii. (1832) 189.—A tall forest-tree 50–80 ft. high with a rather narrow round-topped head; trunk 1–3 ft. diam.; bark greyish-brown or almost black, scaling off in large flakes. Leaves distichous, close-set, spreading, ½–¾ in. long, linear, falcate, acute or subacute, 1-nerved,. margins recurved, red-brown when dry; those of young plants longer, narrower, and more acute. Flowers diœcious. Males axillary, solitary, sessile, cylindric, equalling or rather longer than the leaves. Anthers numerous, closely packed; connective obtuse. Female flowers solitary or very rarely geminate at the top of a curved peduncle clothed with minute scale - like bracts. Fruit large, broadly oblong, drupaceous, ¾ in. long, reddish-purple with a glaucous bloom, top of the peduncle not enlarged nor succulent.— A. Cunn. Precur. n. 327; Raoul, Choix, 41; Hook. Ic. Plant, t. 542; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 232; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 257; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 84; Pilger, Pflanzenreich, iv. 5, 66.

North and South Islands, Stewaet Island: Abundant in forests-throughout. Sea-level to 3000 ft. Miro; Toromiro; Black-pine.

Wood strong, hard and compact, straight-grained, not durable in exposed situations. The fleshy drupes form the chief food of the wood-pigeon during the winter months.

6.

P. spicatus, R. Br. in Benn. PI. Jav. Rar. 40.—A tall round-headed forest-tree 40–80 ft. high; branches numerous, crowded, erect; trunk 2–4 ft. diam.; bark black or bluish-black, scaling off in large flakes. Young plants with long slender flexuous and pendulous branches, clothed towards the tips with reddish-brown leaves. Leaves of mature plants distichous, ⅓–½ in. long, linear, straight or slightly falcate, obtuse or apiculate, coriaceous, green above, glaucous beneath. Flowers diœcious. Males numerous, ⅕–⅓ in. long, linear, obtuse, horizontal, arranged in axillary spikes. Anthers closely packed; connective ovate, acute. Female flowers in 3–8-flowered spikes. Fruit black or nearly so, globose, succulent,. ¼–⅓ in. diam.; fleshy receptacle wanting.—Hook. Ic. Plant, t. 543; Raoul, Choix, 41; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 232; Handb. N.Z. Fl. page 651258; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 4, 5; Pilger, Pflanzenreich, iv. 5, 65. P. Matai, Lamb, ex Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 741. Dacrydium taxifolium, Banks and Soland. ex Lamb. Pin. ed. ii. 119. D. Mai, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 329. Prumnopitys spicata, Kent in Veitch Man. Conif. ed. ii. 157.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Not uncommon in forests from the North Cape southwards. Sea-level to 2000 ft. Matai; Mai; Black-pine.

A very distinct species, at once recognised by the spicate flowers and globose fruit. Wood brownish, hard, heavy, close-grained, of great strength and durability. This and the preceding differ from the remaining New Zealand species in wanting the succulent receptacle to the fruit.

7.

P. daerydioides, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 358, t. 39.—A lofty tree 80–100 ft. or 120 ft. high, in swampy localities often growing gregariously and forming dense forests; trunk 2–5 ft. diam. Leaves of two forms: those of young trees distichous, ⅙–¼ in. long, linear, falcate, upturned and acuminate at the tip, decurrent at the base, flat, nerveless; of mature trees inserted all round the branch and appressed to it, imbricated, 1/12–⅛ in. long, subulate-lanceolate, acuminate, keeled. Flowers diœcious. Males solitary, terminal, ⅙–¼ in. long; anthers crowded; connective ovate, acute. Female flowers minute, solitary, terminating the branchlets; peduncle and bracts swollen. Fruit a black ovoid nut about ⅙ in. long, seated on the greatly enlarged bright-red succulent peduncle. — Raoul, Choix, 41; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 233; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 258; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 31, 32; Pilger, Pflanzenreich, iv. 5, 57. P. thuyoides, R. Br. in Benn. PI. Jav. Rar. 41. Dacrydium excelsum, D. Don. in Lamb. Pin. ed. ii. App. D. ferrugineum, Van Houtte ex Gord. Pin. 590. D. thuyoides, Banks and Sol. ex Carr. Conif. 479.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island: In lowland forests from the North Cape southwards, abundant. Sea-level to 2000 ft. Kahikatea; Kahika; White-pine.

One of the tallest trees in the colony, said to occasionally attain the height of 150 ft. The wood is white or pale-yellow, tough and compact, straight-grained, and easily worked, but unfortunately not durable when in contact with the ground or where regularly exposed to damp. It is very suitable for inside work of all kinds, but is liable to the attacks of a small boring beetle.