RARE GROWTH
A LARGE SPECIMEN
(Special to the "Evening Post.")
WANGANUI, August 22.
One of the largest specimens of the remarkable root-parasite, Dactylanthus taylori, was brought to the Alexander Museum recently by a settler from the King Country. The root, which was liberally sprinkled with the quaint "wooden flowers," measured 19 inches in length. Dactylanthus, the "fuakinga" of the Maori, was originally discovered by the late' Rev. Richard Taylor about 1857, growing on the roots of the pittosporum, fagtis, and other trees growing near the head of the Wanganui River, at an altitude of some 4000 feet. The next specimens of the parasite were found by Mr. T. Kirk, F.L.S., on the Thames goldfield. The delicious daphne-like perfume has enabled collectors to locate this extremely rare and interesting parasite.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19380823.2.15
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 46, 23 August 1938, Page 5
Word Count
129RARE GROWTH Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 46, 23 August 1938, Page 5
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