Synopsis of the principal flora met with during the journey, arranged alphabetically in accordance with native names.
Trees.
Hinau.—Eloecarpus dentatus. A graceful tree, 20 to 30 feet high; blossoms with a white flower; produces an edible berry ½ inch long, pulp astringent, stone deeply furrowed; bark furnishes a black dye, common throughout the interior of the island; finest specimens met with in the Teranga forest, west of Ruapehu, at an altitude of about 2000 feet.
Horoeka.—Aralia Crassifolia. A small tree with a narrow leaf; frequent in the forests of the Lake Country and other parts of the interior.
Kahikatea.—Podocarpus dacrydioides. The white pine, growth 50 to 120 feet; found on the swampy lands and river-banks; berry edible, wood soft; largest trees seen in Valley of Whanganui.
Karaka.—Corynocarpus lœvigatus. A beautiful tree, 30 to 40 feet high, with glossy ovate leaves and oblong berries, which, when ripe, are of a bright red colour. The natives affirm that this tree was brought by their ancestors from Hawaiki. Seen near Tauranga and in Lake Country.
Karamu.—Coprosma lucida. A handsome tree with dark, shining ovate leaves; growth 20 to 30 feet; berries small, bright red, and edible; foliage eaten readily by cattle and horses; widely distributed all over the central portion of North Island, especially in forests of Kaimanawa Mountains and Western Taupo; grows up to altitude of 3000 feet.
Mahoe.—Melicytus ramiflorus. A bushy tree; growth 15 to 30 feet; frequent in forests of the interior; foliage eaten by cattle.
Makomako.—Aristotelia racemosa. A small tree, 10 to 20 feet high; bark black; bears a small berry; bark used by natives to produce a black dye; plentiful in forests of Whanganui.
Manoa.—Dacrydium Colensoi. Growth 10 to 50 feet; leaves an inch in length, those of the upper branches overlapping each other; wood very hard, formerly much prized by natives for the manufacture of spears and clubs; frequent in valley of Manganui a-te-Ao.