Flora of New Zealand Series

akebia

High-climbing liane, deciduous, or ± evergreen in mild climates. Petioles to c. 12 cm long. Leaflets 5, entire; petiolules to 2 cm long on larger leaflets. Lamina of largest leaflet 3-6 × 2-4 cm, elliptic to obovate; base cuneate to rounded; basal pair of leaflets considerably smaller. Racemes 5-9 cm long, usually with 2 ♀ and 4-6 ♂ fls; fls fragrant. Peduncles slender; bracts of ♀ fls 3-5 mm long, lanceolate, acuminate; bracts of ♂ fls smaller. Pedicels filiform, much > bracts. Sepals of ♂ fls c. 6 mm long, broad-elliptic to suborbicular, valvate, pinkish purple. Stamens 3-4 mm long, incurved. Sepals of ♀ fls 11-15 mm long, suborbicular, concave, scarcely valvate, purple. Ovary of 3-6 carpels, each 4-6 mm long; stigma with prominent glistening mucilage. Fr. 8-9 cm long, sausage-shaped, mauve or purple.

N.: Whangaparapara (Great Barrier Id), Te Araroa (near East Cape), near Dannevirke (S. Hawke's Bay); S.: near Havelock (Marlborough), Tai Tapu (near Christchurch).

China, Japan, Korea 1940

Climbing over indigenous shrubs, probably near to original plantings.

FL Aug-Oct.

A. quinata is a rather uncommon plant in cultivation in N.Z. It seems to spread vegetatively to a limited extent. Individual plants are almost certainly wholly or partly self-sterile. Although frs have been collected in N.Z. they are rare.