Flora of New Zealand Series

Trophis ? opaca Banks et Sol. ex Hook. f. Fl. N.Z. 1, 1854, 224 (in part).

Epicarpurus microphyllus Raoul (in part) in Hook. f. Handbk N.Z. Fl. 1864, 251.

P. heterophylla Blume var. elliptica Kirk in T.N.Z.I. 29, 1897, 500, t. 46.

Type locality: Whangarei Heads. Type: A, Cheeseman.

Tree up to 12 m. tall; bark dark brown; branchlets ± pubescent when young, lenticels ∞. Lvs of juvenile plants 2-6 × 1-3 cm., about elliptic-oblong in outline; margins crenate, often deeply lobed, sinus obtuse. Lvs of adults 3·5-8·5 × 2-3·5 cm., on petioles up to 1 cm. long, us. less; lamina ovate to broad-ovate to ovate-elliptic, obtuse to subacute, margins crenate. Spikes axillary, rarely terminal, solitary or paired or rarely 3 together; staminate up to 3 cm. long, densely fld; pistillate up to 2.5 cm. long, fls distichously arranged. Drupe broad-ovoid, red, c. 6·5 mm. diam.

DIST: N., S. Coastal and lowland forest from lat. 35° to Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds.

FL. 8-10.

Cheeseman (Man. N.Z. Fl. 1925, 378) gives the name as "P. opaca Britton and Rendle in Journ. Bot. (1907) 74". Britten in J. Bot., Lond. 45, 1907, 74, referring to P. banksii Cheesem., merely says: "The oldest specific name should have been adopted." Trophis ? opaca is here rejected as a nomen confusum.