Flora of New Zealand Series

Type locality: Nelson. Type: K, Bidwill 130.

Spreading or erect shrub up to 3·5 m., trunk up to 4 dm. diam. Lvs of juveniles 5-10 × 1-1·5 mm., linear, rigid, patent, obtuse to subacute, midvein distinct below; of adults 1-2 mm. long, imbricate, appressed, obtuse to subacute, thick, coriac. Final branchlets 1-1·5 mm. diam., tetragonous. Male strobili solitary, terminal, c. 3-5 mm. long; apiculus obtuse. Carpidia solitary or paired, subterminal, rather larger than scale lvs. Epimatium adnate to base of carpidium, coriac., covering inverted, pend. ovule; integument free, membr. Seed 2-3 mm. long, subovoid, compressed. Aril white to yellowish.

DIST.: N., S., St. Montane to subalpine scrub from lat. 39° southwards, also lowland in western S. and St. Bog Pine.

Kirk (For. Fl. 1889, 57) distinguishes two forms: a. erecta, outline conical, flat lvs obscurely ribbed, fruiting branchlets very slender. b. reclinata, prostrate with spreading branches, flat lvs with distinct midrib, fruiting branches rather stout. The status of these and of "slender forms" of D. biforme is not clear. Hybridism between the two spp. is suspected.