Flora of New Zealand Series

Type locality: near Hermitage, Mount Cook. Type: A, T. F. Cheeseman, Jan. 1898.

Rather strict, rigid, erect shrub up to c. 3 m. tall with stout main stem; branches stout, ± divaricate; branchlets slender, stiff, ± tetragonous, pubescent, with dark reddish brown bark. Lvs opp. or in opp. fascicles on short branchlets, shortly petioled. Stipules subtruncate, ciliolate. Lamina coriac., darkish green above, paler below, linear to very narrowly cuneate, obtuse, ± 10-14 × 1-1·5 mm. Midrib alone, or sts principal secondary veins visible. ♂ 1-2 on arrested branchlets; calyx 0; corolla cut almost to base into acute lobes. ♀ solitary on arrested branchlets: calyx-lobes narrow, conspicuous; corolla tubular, lobes acute, ± 1/2 length of tube. Drupe translucent, stained pale blue, globose to broad-oblong, 6-8 mm. diam.

DIST.: N., S. Lowland to montane and lower subalpine grassland, shrubland, forest margins from Mount Hikurangi southwards, rather local.