160:

"In the clefts of the rocks were growing shrubs, with here and
there the larger growth of a pohutukawa, a large crooked-limbed
evergreen tree found in New Zealand, and bearing, about
Christmas, a most beautiful crimson bloom. The boat-builders
in New Zealand use the crooked limbs of this tree for the knees
and elbows of their boats."

1873. `Catalogue of Vienna Exhibition':

"Pohutukawa for knees, ribs, and bent-pieces, invaluable to
ship-builder. It surpasses English oak. Confined to Province
of Auckland."

1875. T. Laslett, `Timber and Timber Trees,' p. 310:

"The pohutukawa-tree (<i>Metrosideros tomentosa</i>) requires
an exposed situation . . . is crooked, misshapen. . . .
The natives speak of it (the timber) as very durable."

1886. J. A. Fronde, `Oceana,' p. 308:

"Low down on the shore the graceful native Pokutukawa [sic] was
left undisturbed, the finest of the Rata tribe--at a distance
like an ilex, only larger than any ilex I ever saw, the
branches twisted into the most fantastic shapes, stretching out
till their weight bears them to the ground or to the water.
Pokutukawa, in Maori language, means `dipped in the sea-spray.'
In spring and summer it bears a brilliant crimson flower."

<hw>Pointers</hw>, <i>n</i>. two of the bullocks in a team.
See quotation.

1872. C. H. Eden, `My Wife and I in Queensland,' p. 36:

"Twelve bullocks is the usual number in a team, the two polers
and the leaders being steady old stagers; the pair next to the
pole are called the `pointers,' and are also required to be
pretty steady, the remainder being called the `body bullocks,'
and it is not necessary to be so particular about their being
thoroughly broken in."

<hw>Poison-berry Tree</hw>, <i>n</i>. <i>Pittosporum
phillyroides</i>, De C., <i>N.O. Pittosporeae</i>.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 588:

"Butter-Bush of Northern Australia; Willow-Tree of York
Peninsula; Native Willow, Poison-berry Tree (South Australia).
The berries are not poisonous--only bitter."

<hw>Poison-Bush</hw>, <i>n</i>. name given to a genus of
poisonous Australian shrubs, <i>Gastrolobium</i> (q.v.).

Out of the thirty-three described species of the genus
<i>Gastrolobium</i>, only one is found out of Western
Australia; <i>G. grandiflorum</i>, F. v. M., is the
poison-bush of the Queensland interior and of Central
Australia. The name is also given to <i>Swainsonia Greyana</i>,
Lindl., <i>N.O. Leguminosae<