Flora of New Zealand Series

wisteria

Woody deciduous climber up to 30 m long; twigs densely hairy when young, becoming ± glabrous. Lvs densely hairy when young, becoming ± glabrous above when mature but usually remaining moderately clothed in appressed hairs below, petiolate; leaflets elliptic to obovate, acuminate, entire, in (3)-4-6 opposite pairs, 30-80 mm long, stipellate; petiolules 2-4 mm long; stipules inconspicuous. Raceme with numerous fls; pedicels c. 15-20 mm long. Calyx densely clothed in fine hairs; calyx teeth ovate-triangular, < tube. Corolla mauve to deep lilac, (15)-20-25-(28) mm long. Pod tomentulose, few-seeded, (6)-10-15 cm long; seeds smooth, brown, flattened, suborbicular.

N.: Great Barrier Id, scattered localities in the Bay of Plenty.

E. Asia 1981

Waste places, scrubland.

FL Oct-Feb.

Wisteria is widely cultivated in N.Z. and frequently persists in deserted gardens and at old house sites, but is rarely truly naturalised and seldom sets good seed. Naturalised plants are the result of vegetative spread.