Part 80

LEPTOSPERMUM SCOPARIUM (Manuka, Tea tree). A small tree, growing usually in poor soil. The leaves are very small and dull green, and the numerous star-like flowers are white, tinged with pink.

MELICOPE SIMPLEX. A somewhat straggling shrub with very small, roundish, light green leaves.

MELICYTUS RAMIFLORUS (Mahoe or Hinahina). A shrub or tree. The leaves are moderately toothed, bright green, and very pretty. The flowers are in clusters, hanging from the bases of the leaves; the fruit is violet-coloured with black seeds.

METROSIDEROS SCANDENS (White Rata). A common climbing shrub with small, roundish, glossy, dark green leaves and very numerous feathery white flowers. The seed has a powdery appearance, and is enclosed in a large capsule.

{139}MUHLENBECKIA ADPRESSA. A common climbing plant, generally found near the edge of the forest. It has a very tangled growth. Leaves heart-shaped or broadly oblong; in young plants, three-lobed; spike, many-flowered.

MYOSOTIS ARVENSIS (Forget-me-not).

MYRTUS BULLATA (Ramarama). A remarkably pretty shrub with reddish-brown or green leaves, much crinkled. The flowers are white, tinged with pink, and very much resemble those of the English myrtle. Berries about the size of currants, red or purple.

OENOTHERA BIENNIS (the Evening Primrose). This herb grows to the height of two or three feet. It has large, bright yellow flowers, opening towards evening. Found in sandy soil on the sea-coast.

OLEA APETALA (Maire, New Zealand Olive). A shrub or small tree with broad leaves, and insignificant flowers growing on opposite sides of the flower-stalk.

OLEARIA TRAVERSII (Ake-ake). A small tree or shrub with oval, very wavy, thick, pale green leaves, white underneath. The flowers are very small, yellowish-white and strongly scented. They do not appear till late in autumn.

PANAX ARBOREA. A small tree with bright, glossy green, compound leaves. Each leaf consists of five separate leaflets on distinct footstalks, connected with branch by a long, stout stem. The large bunches of black berries are very conspicuous in the autumn.

PENNANTIA CORYMBOSA. A small tree with oval, serrated, bright green leaves, and handsome clusters of sweet-scented white flowers.

PIPER EXCELSUM (Kawa-kawa). A small tree generally growing in damp places. The leaves are broad, heart-shaped, bright green, and nearly always riddled with holes.

PITTOSPORUM EUGENIOIDES (Tarata). A shrub or small tree, with rather elongate, pale green wavy leaves, and bundles of fragrant, small, yellow flowers.

PITTOSPORUM TENUIFOLIUM, var. NIGRESCENS (Matipo). A very ornamental shrub with small, shining, bright green leaves, and black stems. The flowers are dark purple, and rather buried among the foliage.

PLAGIANTHUS BETULINUS (South Island Ribbon Wood). A tree of moderate size. The leaves are rather light green, and doubly serrated. The flowers are small, white, with red anthers, and very numerous.

POA AUSTRALIS (Tussock). One of the common native grasses of New Zealand. It grows in large clumps, often about two feet in height. It is especially common in open situations in the South Island.

POMADERRIS ERICIFOLIA (Tauhinu, or Cotton Wood). A shrub usually growing in rather exposed places. The leaves are very small, pointed, dull green above and white underneath. They are placed very closely on the stems, which are also white. The flowers are dull yellowish-white, and grow in clusters.

PTERIS INCISA. A soft, light green, straggling fern, growing in open places in the forest, and round decayed logs.

SCABIOUS ("Pincushion"). An introduced garden plant. The flowers are of many different colours--the name "pincushion," gives the best description of appearance. It is very attractive to insects.

{140}SENECIO BELLIDIOIDES. A common mountain herb, with rather dark green leaves, and a small tuft of bright yellow daisy-like flowers.

SENECIO SCANDENS (called by settlers French Ivy). A common climbing plant having a superficial resemblance to ivy, but with much brighter green leaves, and yellow flowers.

SENECIO VULGARIS (Groundsel). A common garden weed.

SOLANUM AVICULARE (Poro-poro, or Potato Plant). A shrub, with very dark green, pointed leaves, purple underneath, and bright purple flowers resembling those of the potato.

TODEA HYMENOPHYLLOIDES. One of the "crape" ferns, growing in very shady places in the forest. It has soft, graceful, light green fronds.

URTICA FEROX ("Nettle Tree"). It has prickly, light green leaves, with very long thick spines; a row of these spines is situated along the midrib of each leaf. It grows in open situations.

URTICA INCISA (Ground Nettle). A herbaceous plant found in shady places amongst ferns. The leaves are covered with spines, which give a very sharp sting when touched.

VERONICA (Koromiko). A genus of shrubs, found commonly on the margins of forests, and on hill-tops. The leaves are rather long, smooth, and dark green, and the flowers are mostly purplish-white.