File:Plants of New Zealand (1906) (14804059903).jpg

Identifier: plantsofnewzeala1906lain (find matches)
Title: Plants of New Zealand
Year: 1906 (1900s)
Authors: Laing, R. M. (Robert Malcolm), b. 1865 Blackwell, E. W. (Ellen W.)
Subjects: Plants
Publisher: Christchurch : Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd.
Contributing Library: The LuEsther T Mertz Library, the New York Botanical Garden
Digitizing Sponsor: The LuEsther T Mertz Library, the New York Botanical Garden

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n height. Leaves leathery, hard, withsharp points. Flowers scentless, on very short stalks, white or rosy, h, in.-; in.across. Capsule bursting by 4 or 5 valves, very woody. Maori names Manuka,Kahikatoa. Colonists name, Tea-Tree. Both islands. Fl. Nov.-April. This is the most abundant of New Zealand shrubs. It isthe colonial counterpart of the English broom and gorse, andis as beautiful as either of these. One of the loveliest sightsof the land is a great valley at Christmas-time, clad withLeptospermum in full flower. From the distance of a mile ortwo, the country seems to be spread with a sheet of snow, soprofusely does the plant flower. A variety is known whichhas the petals splashed with deep crimson. It is oftencultivated in gardens, and vies in beauty with many morepretentious blooms. To the Maoris the tree was known as the manuka. By thesettlers it is generally called tea-tree. It has acquired thisname because early voyagers and colonists sometimes used its THE MYRTLE FAMILY 273
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Fig. 85. Leptospermum scoparium. 19 274 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND pungent leaves in place of tea. Indeed, the whole plant,including leaves, flowers, fruit, and young shoots, is highlyaromatic, and the oil which it contains, will perhaps, in future,be put to some useful purpose. The flowers are generally hermaphrodite, but are sometimesimperfect or unisexual. A branch may occasionally be foundbearing flowers which are staminate only, while on the lowerportion of the same branch last years seed capsules are borne.The capsule is hard and woody, of a reddish-brown colour.Very small specimens occasionally bear flowers. A plantwas once observed, not more than half-an-inch in height,which bore a flower and duly developed seed. The flowerappeared to be actually lying upon the ground. The wood of this tree is largely used for fences andfirewood. The Maoris made use of it for their paddles andspears, and a bunch of the twigs makes an excellent broom. Leptospepmum ericoides (The Heath-like Manuka).

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