"Very similar to Q. serrata but smaller" (Hook. f. Handbk N.Z. Fl. 1864, 59). Lvs 2-7 × 1-3 cm., on petioles up to 2 cm. long; lamina elliptic to broad-elliptic, obtuse to subacute, not blotched, distantly rather obscurely serrate to entire. Racemes 3·5-6 cm. long; pedicels 2-3 mm. long; petals 1·5-2 mm. long, ovate-oblong. Capsules 4-5 mm. long, including style.

DIST.: N. Lowland to higher montane forest from lat. 38° to 39° 30'.

Type locality: "East Coast, Colenso". Type: K, Colenso.

The type specimen has lvs 3-6 × 1·5-2 cm., on petioles 1·5-2 cm. long; lamina very obscurely sparingly toothed to entire. A specimen in W, collected by Travers in "south-west Nelson", may belong here.

POLYMORPHY

The whole Quintinia complex needs fresh study. As suggested by Cockayne and Allan (Ann. Bot., Lond. 48, 1934, 23) hybridism probably plays a part, but there is evidence that several true-breeding forms occur in both Q. serrata and Q. acutifolia.