Shrub or tree up to ± 6 m. tall; bark dark, red on younger branches and on branchlets. Lvs on rather stout petioles up to ± 5 mm. long. Lamina ± 3-6 × 1·5-2.5 cm., coriac., glab. except on midvein, oblong to obovate-oblong to broad-elliptic, obtuse; margins us. strongly undulate, flat or nearly so in some forms. Infl. of ± crowded fascicles. Fls. c. 1·5-2.5 mm. diam., whitish, unisexual, on short pedicels. Calyx-lobes 4 or obsolete, persistent. Petals 4, free, revolute; ♂ with 4 stamens, anthers large, ovary vestigial; ♀ with sterile anthers; stigma ± sessile, fimbriate. Fr. c. 2-3 mm. diam., dark brown to black when mature.

DIST.: N., S., St. Lowland to montane forest, especially marginal, and shrubland, throughout, ± local. Mapau.

Type locality: Akaroa. Type: P, M. Hombron, 1841.

Individual plants are us. ± uniform as to the degree of undulation of the lamina and the degree of red colour in the lvs and branchlets.