SCENTED MUSK.

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 151, 23 December 1929, Page 10

SCENTED MUSK.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—During the coming holidays when many thousands of people wili I)e wandering over the countryside, there should be every opportunity of establishing the fact that the scenied musk does or does ur\ grow in New Zealand. It w;il a* siiaacA* bered that a very substantial reward whs offered by the "Daily Mail" for a plant o£ the scented musk, it will also be remembered that quite a number o£ your correspondents were certain they knew where lit grew. I wonder!

My own observations in parts of tho Akatarawa and Lower Hutt have proved that the musk to be found in these locali-

ties is entirely without scent. No solution I believe has as yet been offered for this remarkable action of Nature, that either the musk has lost its scent, or that the particular species has died out. For the purpose of helping to establish this fact it is hoped that a vigorous search will be made this summer.

The plant grows in swampy localities, and is low growing. The leaves are palegreen, covered with minute sticky hairs, and are set iv opposite pairs and about liv ioug when fully grown. The stem is also hairy. The flower is trumpet shaped, nve petalled, about %in long, yellow, aud grows from the junction of the leaf with, stem. The scent, i£ there, will be very noticeable. Good luck to anyone fiudiu'" this treasure.—l am, etc..

E. W. HUKSTHOTJSE.

Lower Hutt.