The Kotukutuku (Fuchsia excorticata) is akin to the fuchsia seen in gardens at home. It is here a huge tree, standing eighty feet in height, and with great girth. The flower is fine, and the fruit agreeable eating.
The Kawaka (Libocedrus Doniana) is a grand tree of the largest class. Its timber is dark and heavy, but is too brittle to work well. It serves some purposes, however.
The Mangiao (Tetranthera calicaris) is a smaller tree, but one that yields a timber exceptionally useful to carpenters and joiners. It is also largely used in the ship-yards. The wood is fragrant with an aromatic odour, as is also the leaf and blossom.
The Matai, or "Red Pine" (Podocarpus spicata), needs special mention. Its wood is durable; soft when fresh, it has the property of hardening with time.
The Miro, "Black Pine" (Podocarpus ferruginea), is, like the matai, a large-sized tree. Its timber is close-grained and durable, but is somewhat brittle.
The Ake-ake (Dodonæa viscosa) gives a handsome wood for cabinet work, which is said to be imperishable.
The Horopito, or "Pepper-tree" (Drimys axillaris) yields also an ornamental timber. Though the tree is of small size its wood is useful for veneers. Its fruit, leaves, and bark contain medicinal properties.
The Ohoeka (Panax crassifolium) is a small shrub-like tree, whose wood is noted for singular lightness, flexibility, and elasticity.
The Manuka or Manukau (Leptospermum scoparium, et ericoides), is the "ti-tree" of settlers. In one condition it is low shrubbery, not unlike heather, called then Rawiri by the Maori. "Second-growth ti-tree" is like a plantation of cane, coming up very densely. This brushwood is useful for small purposes about a house. It develops into wattles and stakes after twenty years or so; these are of great value for fencing. Finally, the plant becomes one of the largest forest-trees, yielding a hard, close-grained timber. There are red and white varieties. The Maori particularize it as Kahikatea, when in the tree condition. A sort of manna, which exudes from the plant in all stages, is called by them Piamanuka. Ti-tree springs upon any land that has been cleared or burnt, and comes up densely and rapidly. It is the chief weed the pioneer farmer has to contend with.