Flora of New Zealand Series

Melaleuca diffusa Forst. f. Prodr. 1786, 37.

M. hypericifolia A. Cunn. in Ann. nat. Hist. 3, 1837, 114.

Slender liane up to 6 m. or more tall; branchlets indistinctly 4-angled, finely pubescent. Lvs subsessile; lamina submembr., us. ± pubescent when young, oblong- to ovate-lanceolate to ovate-oblong, ± 7-8-(15) × 3-8 mm., occ. ones up to 25 mm. long, acute to apiculate, sts obtuse (on same plant). Infl. of few-fld us. lateral cymes, us. below lvs; pedicels up to 5 mm. long, ± pubescent. Receptacle ± turbinate c. 3 mm. long, suddenly expanded above; sepals ovate-triangular; petals suborbicular, white to pink; filaments slender ± 7-9 mm. long, white to pink. Ovary adnate to and exceeded by receptacle. Capsule subglobose, ± 3-4 mm. diam., exceeded by receptacle-rim.

DIST.: N., S., St. Lowland forests throughout.

FL. 10-1. FT. 1-3.

M. hypericifolia A. Cunn. in Ann. nat. Hist. 3, 1839, 114 was based on specimens collected "In dense forests, adhering to trees, near the Kahio river, Wangaroa.-1833, R. Cunningham." His description includes: "foliis sessilibus ovalibus oblongo-lanceolatisve obtusis cum apiculo, utrinque glabris . . . Folia . . . uncialia. Flores racemosi rubicundi . . . Petala rosea."

Hooker (Fl. N.Z. 1, 1852, 67, t. 16) gives: "Leaves (⅓-⅔ inch) membranous (for the genus) sessile, ovate, subacute with a short point . . . flowers . . . scarlet." His illustration fits forms now attributed to M. diffusa.

Colenso (T.N.Z.I. 12, 1880, 361) based his M. subsimilis on specimens from "Forests at the head of the River Manawatu, where it climbs lofty trees; 1876-79." He gives: "Leaves . . . petiolate, 7-9 lines long, 4-6 lines broad, broadly ovate and acute, sometimes broadly elliptic and mucronate, sub-coriaceous . . . Flowers . . . whitish . . . petals small, fugacious . . . filaments slender, simple, pure white, two lines long." He considers it to differ from M. hypericifolia A. Cunn. "in its leaves being petiolate, broader, pubescent and ciliate, and not so acute; in the colour of its flowers; [He accepts Hooker's 'scarlet' for M. hypericifolia] in its stamens being always very diffuse-not erect."

The complex needs further study; there is some evidence that M. colensoi crosses with M. diffusa.