Metrosideros
(from metra, the heart of a tree, and sideros, iron; referring to the hardness of the wood). Ironwood. ORD. Myrtaceae. This genus comprises about eighteen species of greenhouse, evergreen, glabrous or hoary-tomentose, rarely scandent, trees or shrubs, inhabiting the Pacific Islands, from New Zealand to the Sandwich Isles, one being found in the Indian Archipelago, one in tropical Australia, and one in South Africa. Flowers often showy, in dense, di- or trichotomous, terminal or rarely axillary, cymes; calyx tube campanulate, funnel-shaped, or urceolate; segments five, loosely imbricated; petals five, spreading. Leaves opposite or some rarely alternate, penniveined. The undermentioned species are all from New Zealand. For culture, see Melaleuca.
M. buxifolia (Box-leaved). A synonym of M. scandens. M. florida (flowery). A synonym of M. robusta.
M. robusta (robust). fl. red, disposed in a terminal thyrse. May l. opposite, obovate-oblong, glabrous, veiny. h. 5ft. 1845. Shrub. (B. M. 4471, under name of M. florida.) M. scandens (climbing).* fl. white, almost sessile. August. l. sessile, ovate, slightly hoary beneath. h. 4ft. or 5ft. in pots, but in its native forests climbing to the summits of the loftiest trees. 1845. (B. M. 4515, under name of M. buxifolia.) M. speciosa (showy). A synonym of Callistemon speciosus. M. tomentosa (tomentose).* fl. rich crimson, large, in terminal, many-flowered, lax or dense cymes, thickly pubescent. July. l. decussate, petiolate, 1in. to 3in. long, varying from linear-lanceolate to oblong or orbicular-oblong. h. 30ft. to 40ft. 1840. Tree. (B. M. 4488.