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Family Taxaceae.
*Libocedrus Bidwillii Hook. f. [J. B. A.]
Akaroa to Mount Herbert, above 1,500 ft., and chiefly on the southern sides.
(2)L. Doniana, recorded by J. B. A., does not occur.
Podocarpus totara D. Don. [J. F. A.; J. B. A.; L. C.]
At one time everywhere abundant; now getting uncommon.
*Podocarpus ferrugineus D. Don. [J. F. A.; J. B. A.]
At one time there were a few trees on the peninsula. The only ones I have seen recently are in a small group in Port Levy, on the slopes of Mount Herbert, at about 1,200 ft. Mr. E. Hay has informed me that there is one specimen in his reserve at Pigeon Bay.
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*Podocarpus Hallii T. Kirk.
Usually towards the tops of the hills, where it is often rather stunted. Generally known on the peninsula as “mountain-totara.” The timber is considered somewhat inferior to that of P. totara. Apparently not hitherto recorded.
Podocarpus spicatus R. Br. [J. B. A.; L. C.]
With P. totara this was at one time the chief timber-tree of the forests, now largely destroyed. Above 2,500 ft. it becomes dwarfed and flattened to the rocks.
Podocarpus dacrydioides A. Rich. [J. B. A.]
Much less common than the preceding, and generally on the flats, though scattered trees were found in most valleys. “The flat was covered [i.e., in Le Bon's Bay] with white and black pines as thick as they could stand; and the sides of the valley grew immense totaras and other timber.” (H. C. Jacobson, Tales of Banks Peninsula, 1893.)
*(1)Dacrydium cupressinum Soland. [J. B. A.]
I introduce this with hesitation, as I have not seen it on the peninsula, and believe it to be now extinct. However, settlers have assured me that it once grew in Little River, near Okain's, and elsewhere in small quantity.
Mr. W. H. Montgomery, of Little River, writes thus: “Rimus used to be common on my land near the Hilltop”; and I have heard from other sources that some 40,000 ft. of this timber was taken from a stand on Harman's Track (Puaha). J. B. A. (Trans., vol. 12, p. 328) states the rimu is “chiefly found on the higher ridges, and is here a far inferior tree in beauty compared to the West Coast variety of the same species.” This does not agree with my information; and I certainly would expect to find it rather in the moister valleys amongst the denser bush than on the higher ridges.