Flora of New Zealand Series

Epacris juniperina J. R. et G. Forst. Char. Gen. Pl. 1776, 20.

Ardisia acerosa Gaertn. Fruct. 2, 1791, 78. t. 94.

Cyathodes acerosa (Gaertn.) R. Br. Prodr. 1810, 539-540.

Leucopogon forsteri A. Rich. Essai Fl. N.Z. 1832, 216.

Cyathodes articulata Col. in T.N.Z.I. 28, 1896, 600.

Type: not located.

Erect or spreading shrub up to c. 5 m. tall; bark black, branchlets divergent. Lvs coriac., patent or reflexed, sessile to very shortly petioled, glaucous below, 6-15-(20) × 0·5-1 mm.; margins ± recurved, ciliolate; apex with fine pungent tip c. 1 mm. long; veins 3-7, branched above. Infl. of solitary axillary fls on recurved peduncles ± 5 mm. long. Bracts imbricate, ovate-oblong, investing peduncle, up to c. 1 mm. long. Fls 3-4 mm. long; calyx-lobes ovate-oblong, c. 3 mm. long, ciliolate. Corollatube hardly > calyx, whitish green; lobes spreading, whitish green, acute or subacute, us. glab. on upper surface. Fr. white to pink to red to crimson to dark purple; 4-7-(9) mm. diam., globose; locules 5.

DIST.: N., S., St. Lowland to montane forest and shrubland throughout.

FL. 8-12. FT. 10-3-(7).