Flora of New Zealand Series

Erect shrub to 4 m high, stellate-tomentose. Petiole of adult lvs to c. 1 cm long. Lamina 50-70 × 20-30 mm (juvenile lvs often larger), narrow- to broad-elliptic, rugose; upper surface stellate-hairy; lower surface with stellate tomentum, some of the hairs stalked; interveinal areas whitish; veins and midrib brown; margins crenulate to denticulate, not or only slightly revolute; apex obtuse to acute; stipules 4-10 mm long, subulate, soon deciduous. Infl. an open, much-branched, pyramidal panicle to c. 20 cm long with fls mainly terminal. Calyx glabrous inside, pale green; lobes c. 2 mm long, spreading to reflexed. Petals 0. Anthers oblong. Ovary with tuft of white, long-rayed, stellate hairs at apex, wholly immersed in calyx tube at anthesis, c. 1/2 immersed at fruiting. Fr. c. 2 mm diam., globular, blackish; cocci opening by opercula occupying > 3/4 of their inner faces.

N.: a few W. coastal areas from Kawhia Harbour to Mokau (S. Auckland); S.: Ngaio Bay (Nelson), Kahutara R. (S. of Kaikoura, Marlborough), Banks Peninsula, Bluff (Southland)

Also indigenous to Victoria and Tasmania.

St.: Halfmoon Bay.

FL Nov-Feb.

P. apetala is cultivated and has become naturalised to a minor extent in several places; its natural distribution is from Kawhia Harbour to Mokau.