Flora of New Zealand Series

Erect shrub up to c. 2 m high, with ascending to spreading branches; branchlets ± setose. Lvs alternate; petioles thick, c. 3 mm long. Lamina (10)-20-60-(70) × (7)-10-25-(27) mm, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, subcoriaceous or coriaceous but not thick, usually rather densely clad in stiff hairs when young; base cuneate to rounded; apex abruptly mucronate; margins finely serrulate-crenulate. Fls produced at or towards tips of branches, forming terminal panicles up to c. 6 × 6 cm; axis clad in whitish hairs; bracts keeled, ovate, acuminate, ± 3 mm long; pedicels c. 4-6 mm long, with few setose hairs, otherwise usually glabrate but sometimes puberulent; bracteoles ovate, c. 1.5 mm long. Calyx lobes 2-2.5 mm long, lanceolate-ovate to ovate-triangular, acute to acuminate. Corolla urceolate; tube 3.5-6 mm long; lobes c. 1.25 mm long, oblong. Capsule 3-4 × 3-4 mm, invested by dry calyx.

N.: from c. 38-39°.

Endemic.

Montane open shrubland, grassland and rocky places.

FL Oct-Dec.