The Rata Tree.

Otago Witness, Issue 3029, 3 April 1912, Page 33

The Rata Tree.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir —ln your issuo of the 20th inst. mention U made in "Omnium Gatherum" of there bein;r only three known specimen* of the yellow rata. Does this refer to the rata or iron wood trea, or to the rate vine! If to the latter, I know of a specimen down here. It is growing on a black birch tree, The ordinary scarlet rata vine grows mostlj if not always on the silvor or red birch, and is sometimes called birch mistletoe. Now, the specimen I refer to is of tho 3a ,no nature, but tho flowers are yellow. I do not know if it is common or riot down here but I may sav it U the only one I ever' noticed. But, then, again, the bush, hero is mostly red or silver birch.—l am, e t c f Robt, Tapper, Jun. Otautau, March 22. r\Vc submitted Mr Tapper's letter to Mr G. M. Thomson, F.L.S., who has been good enough to supply the following note: —Mr Tapper is under some misconception as to what he calls " rates" ; he is evidently referring to mistletoes. The ratas belong to the genus Metrosideros (nat. ord. Myrtacooo), " and are either red or white flowered. There are only two species in Olago and Southland —M. lucida, a tree from 30ft to 60ft in height, with bright crimson flowers, and M. hypericifolia, a small climbing shrub with white flowers. Neither of these (nor, indeed, any of the ratasj are parasites on otner trees. There are no yellow ratas. On the other hand, there are two common bright redflowered mistletoes (Loranthus oolensoi and L. tetrapetulus). and one yellow-flowered sDeoies (L. flavidus), found in Otago. All three grow as parasites on various species of Fag us or native beech (the so-called "birches"). The yellow-flowered mistletoe is rare in Otago. but is not uncommon in the North Island. Again, the popular names of the birche* are quite misleading. They are all mixed up, and ate differently applied in different parts. The silver or red birch spoken of by Mr Taoper is probably Fagus menziesii. Another species, Fagus fusca, which is not uncommon in "he west of Ota<;o, is also known ns "red birch." but is more uaunlly called "black birch." Then, again. Fagus solalidri, also found in Otago, is variously known as "black birch" and "red birch " The Maoris did not distinguish them much better, for they callod them all Tawluii. Tt is evidently high time we had a forest export in New Zealand to teach neonle to distinguish the native plants—Ed. O.W.]