Flora of New Zealand Series

Slender low-climbing evergreen woody climber. Lvs sparsely hairy, usually 3-foliolate, rarely 1-foliolate, brownish green, 1.5-3-(4.5) × 0.5-2-(3) cm; leaflets thin, variable in shape, usually entire, broadly spathulate, occasionally with a small lobe at the base or ternate; petiole 1-2.5-(3.5) cm long. Fls unisexual, solitary or 2-(3) clustered in lf axils. Bracts in 2-3 pairs, connate, elliptic, hairy. ♂ fls: sepals 4, imbricate, purple-brown or brown, glabrous above, ± silky hairy beneath, linear-lanceolate, 5-15 × 1-2 mm; anthers 0.5-1.5 mm long; filaments glabrous. ♀ fls: sepals 4, generally darker and more hairy than in ♂, otherwise similar. Staminodes few. Achenes hairy or glabrous, 2-5 mm long. Style 2.0-3.5 cm long at fruiting.

N.: Bay of Plenty, Volcanic Plateau, Hauhangaroa, Kaimanawa and Ruahine Ranges; S.: Nelson, Marlborough, Westland (Bell Hill, Lake Haupiri), Canterbury, Otago, Southland.

Endemic.

Rocky scrubby areas.

FL Sep-Oct FT Nov-Dec.