THE KOWHAI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19970, 11 December 1926, Page 3

THE KOWHAI.

Mr W. \V Smith, of Now Plymouth, who for many years held tho position of-superin-tendont of the botanical gardens there, is a strong advocate for planting the kowhai, which he describes as New Zealand’s national flower. Mr Smith has addressed to the Young Citizen the following interesting notes on the kowhai and its attraction for the tui and other native birds:— For many years I have been advocating the culture of this glorious small tree in school and town gardens. It has. by general approval, been accepted as the na-tional-flower of this beautiful country, and therefore should be more extensively cultivated than it is at present. It is well chosen to be our flower owing to its hardness and adaptability to culture in any locality or soils in both islands. The kowhai is a small native tree of easy culture, having graceful foliage and golden yellow flowers, and would prove a real charm growing in school gardens. The structure and form of the flowers are remarkable It is one of the most charming observa tions in Nature study to watch a number of tuis visiting and extracting the nectar from the flowers—ever and anon resting on a near limb to carol their well-known song of mimicry. The tui’s meliphagous habits enable it to fertilise the flowers of the kowhai trees. When collecting the honey secreted around the base of the stamens the birds insert their brush-tipped tongue which has been evolved and is perfectly adapted for the purpose. While thus engaged the birds’ cheeks and foreheads come in contact with the polleniferous anthers of the flowers to which the ripe pollen adheres, and is thus carried to the flowers of other trees to fertilise them. The rare stitch bird, the bell bird, and the tui are the New Zealand representa fives of the honey-eaters, and wherever the trees are visited by them they generally seed freely. The seeds germinate readily and grow well when sown in good soil an inch deep, and permitted to grow nine to 12 inches high before transplanting them The seeds grow well in a box and kept moist in a shady place until the seedlings are ready to transplant. Should any young citizen desire to grow our lovely national flower in their own, or tho school garden. I would be pleased to post to them free a small packet of fresh seed. In addition to tho kowhai, there are other small native flowering trees and plants which should also adorn school gardens with a view to fostering a love in the young of New Zealand’s remarkable flora.