Flora of New Zealand Series

Loranthus colensoi Hook. f. Ic. Pl. 1844, t. 633.

Peraxilla colensoi (Hook. f.) Tiegh. in Bull. Soc. bot. Fr. 41, 1894, 500.

Type locality: Waikaremoana. Type: K, "Colenso N.Z., T. DCXXXIII".

Glab. bushy shrub up to 1 m. or more diam. Branches arising from rather massive base, branchlets terete. Lvs opp., on stout petioles up to c. 2 cm. long. Lamina thick, coriac., veins obscure; broad-oblong to obovate or suborbicular; margins entire or occ. crenulate; apex sts emarginate. Infl. axillary, (3)-5-10-fld on stout peduncles 1-2.5 cm. long. Fls sessile, each subtended by broad-obovate bract ± 4-5 mm. long. Receptacle cupular, us. with truncate rim (sts 4-5-toothed). Per. cylindric in bud, inflated at base and apex, splitting into 4 linear scarlet tepals up to 2.5 cm. long. Anthers very narrow, basifixed; style ± = tepals. Fr. ovoid-ellipsoid.

DIST.: N., S. Throughout, more common in S.; parasitic on Nothofagus, occ. on Metrosideros, Pittosporum. Now also on Pyrus, Robinia, Rosa.

FL. 11-2. FT. 12-3.