The Forest Flora of New Zealand

1889

Botany Department, University of Otago

Wellington: George Didsbury, Government Printer

This volume is Eleanor Lillywhite Hellaby’s own copy of Thomas Kirk’s The Forest Flora of New Zealand. It was given to her by her sister Rose, and then gifted to the Botany Department at the University of Otago in 1964. The instantly recognisable plant featured is a species of kowhai or Sophora. A member of the legume family, the kowhai’s naked branches flower from August to October and are said to herald the coming of spring. The flowers are a favourite food of the tui and bellbird and are considered by some to be the national flower of New Zealand. Indeed, Botany has adopted the kowhai as their Department motif.