1843. E. Dieffenbach, `Travels in New Zealand,' p. 224:
"The venerable rata, often measuring forty feet in circumference and covered with scarlet flowers—while its stem is often girt with a creeper belonging to the same family (<i>metrosideros hypericifolia</i>?)."
1848. Rev. R. Taylor, `Leaf from the Natural History of New Zealand,' p. 21:
"Rata, a tree; at first a climber; it throws out aerial roots; clasps the tree it clings to and finally kills it, becoming a large tree (metrosideros robusta). A hard but not durable wood."
1854. W. Golder, `Pigeons' Parliament,' canto 1, p. 14:
"Unlike the neighbouring rata cast,
And tossing high its heels in air."
1867. F. Hochstetter, `New Zealand,' p. 135:
"The Rata (<i>Metrosideros robusta</i>), the trunk of which, frequently measuring forty feet in circumference, is always covered with all sorts of parasitical plants, and the crown of which bears bunches of scarlet blossoms."
1872. A. Domett, `Ranolf,' p. 264:
"Nay, not the Rata! howsoe'er it bloomed,
Paling the crimson sunset; for you know,
Its twining arms and shoots together grow
Around the trunk it clasps, conjoining slow
Till they become consolidate, and show
An ever-thickening sheath that kills at last
The helpless tree round which it clings so fast."