ti

n.

the name of various species of trees ofthe genus Cordyline, N.O. Liliaceae. It existsin the Pacific Islands as C. Ti, and in New Zealand thespecies are C. australis and C. indivisa. It iscalled in New Zealand the Cabbage-tree (q.v.), and theheart used to be eaten by the settlers. The word isPolynesian. In Hawaiian, the form is Ki; in Maori, Ti. Compare Kanaka (q.v.) and Tangata.By confusion, Tea, in Tea-tree (q.v.), isfrequently spelt Ti, and Tea-tree is sometimesspelt Ti-tri (q.v.).

1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' vol. i.p. 58:

«In these natural shrubberies, too, and especially in wetsituations, a kind of cabbage-tree, called ti by the natives,flourishes to great abundance.»

1855. Rev. R. Taylor,' Te Ika a Maui,' p. 435:

«The ti ( Cordyline australis or Dracoenaaustralis) is found in great abundance. Though so common,it has a very foreign look . . . the leaf is that of a flag,the flower forms a large droop and is very fragrant.»

1866. Lady Barker, `Station Life in New Zealand,' p. 52:

«Ti-ti palms are dotted here and there, and give a foreign andtropical appearance to the whole.»

1882. T. H. Potts, `Out in the Open,' p. 297:

«An abundance of narrow strips of the tough, fibrous leaves ofthe ti-palm.»

1890. W. Colenso, `Transactions of New Zealand Institute,'vol. xviii. art. lvii. p. 486:

«In these plains stand a number of cabbage-trees ( CordylineAustralis), the ti-trees of the Maori. These often bearonly a single head of long narrow harsh leaves at the top oftheir tall slender stems, but sometimes they are slightlybranched, the branches also only bearing a similar tuft.»

1892. `Otago Witness,' Dec. 22, p. 7, col. 2:

«A small grove of ti-palms or cabbage-tree.»