Flora of New Zealand Series

C. rufescens Col. in T.N.Z.I. 18, 1886, 261.

Type locality: Whangaroa. Type: K, R. Cunningham, 1830.

Rather slender shrub or tree up to 2-3-(5) m. tall; branches spreading to divaricate; branchlets pubescent to villous. Lvs on ± villous petioles (3)-4-6-(8) mm. long. Stipules obtuse, oblong, sheathing, pubescent to villous, us. with 1 denticle. Lamina membr., ± hairy, especially on margins, dull green, us. blotched brown, obtuse, sts apiculate, rounded to truncate to subcordate at base (us. on same plant): (15)-20-25 × (10)-14-20 mm. Reticulations of veins evident on both surfaces. Fls in axillary cluster of 2-4. ♂ without calyx; corolla funnelform to subcampanulate, lobes ovate, acute, > tube. ♀ with ± pubescent minutely toothed calyx; corolla tubular, lobes triangular, 4-5 mm. long, subacute, sparsely hairy. Drupe red (occ. white), depressed-globose, sts didymous, 4-5 mm. diam.

DIST.: N., S., St. Lowland forest, especially on alluvial soils, occ. in rather stunted forms in open ground, from c. lat. 35º southwards.

C. rufescens Col. in T.N.Z.I. 18, 1886, 261 was described from specimens collected by Colenso "Scattered on margins of low forests, near Norsewood . . . 1874-85". Part of his description is: "Branchlets densely hairy, with patent reddish hairs. Leaves few . . . very membranous, subrugulose, broadly elliptic, sometimes (but rarely) orbicular, 6-10 lines long, sub-cuspidate . . . Fruit red, didymous, 3 lines broad, 11/2 lines long, each half-drupe orbicular".

Colenso compares his sp. to C. rotundifolia and C. tenuicaulis. The type specimens, in W, without a Colenso label, do not now show any marked differences from C. rotundifolia.