Flora of New Zealand Series

Tree up to ± 10 m. tall, trunk up to ± 4 dm. diam., bark very dark, branches stouter than in P. tenuifolium. Lvs alt. on short stout petioles. Lamina elliptic- to lanceolate- to obovate-oblong, us. acute, ± 4-10 × 2-5 cm., coriac., dark green above, paler below; margins flat. Fls axillary, solitary or occ. in few-fld cymes, on short stout ± pubescent peduncles. Bracts somewhat persistent. Sepals broad-oblong, ± pubescent; petals dark to very dark red. Capsules ± globose, c. 12 mm. diam.; valves woody, thick, rugulose.

DIST.: N., S., St. Lowland to montane forest from lat. 38° southwards, more local than P. tenuifolium; occurs west of divide in S.

FL. 11-12. FT. 1-4.

In the type cover at K are two sheets: (a) "New Zealand Colenso 1849-1008. P. viridior n. sp. Colenso". There are two branches in fruit. Lvs 5·5-6·5 × 2·25-2.5 cm., on petioles ± 1 cm. long, flat or very slightly undulate, acute to subacute. Capsules ± 1 cm. long. (b) "Chalky Bay, Lyall". Lvs 5·5 × 2.5-3 cm., on petioles ± 1 cm. long, flat, obtuse, subacute to acute. Capsules ± 1·2 cm. long.

As Hooker (Handbk N.Z. Fl. 1864, 19) remarks: "Dr. Lyall's Chalky Bay specimens, in fruit only, referred here in the Fl. N.Z., I now think are more probably P. fasciculatum", it seems well to adopt the Colenso specimen as the type. Possibly the description of the fls was based on Dieffenbach's material (not seen by me).

Kirk's P. huttonianum var. viridifolium (Stud. Fl. 1899, 48) with very slender branchlets and "Leaves oblong-obovate, cuneate below, acute, scarcely acuminate" is possibly a var. of P. colensoi with large lvs. Kirk cites the localities: N. Rotorua &c., Urenui. S. Milford Sound &c.