Flora of New Zealand Series

Skinnera excorticata J. R. et G. Forst. Char. Gen. Pl. 1776, 58.

Gynodioec. tree up to ± 12 m. tall; trunk up to 3 dm. or rarely 6 dm. or even more diam. Main branches stout, spreading; bark light brown, thin, flaking, revealing chlorophyll tissue; branchlets ± puberulous. Lvs on slender petioles (1)-2-(4) cm. long; stipules ovate, acuminate, ± 1 mm. long, puberulous. Lamina (3)-10 × (1·5)-3 cm., us. ovate-lanceolate to ovate-oblong, acuminate to acute, rounded or cuneately narrowed to base, glab. except on veins and margins, thin, pale green, pale to silvery below, or occ. suffused with red or purple; margins entire or sinuate, sts obscurely toothed. Fls 20-30 mm. long, us. solitary, sts on naked branches, on slender to capillary peduncles up to ± 15 mm. long. Hypanthium ± 4-angled, up to 15 mm. long. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, 8-14 mm. long; petals dark purple, 2-5 mm. long. Berry dark purple to almost black, ellipsoid, ± 10 mm. long.

DIST.: N., S., St., A. Common in lowland to lower montane forest, especially marginally, throughout.

FL. 8-12. FT. 9-2. Kotukutuku. Konini (fruit).