Flora of New Zealand Series

Piper tetraphyllum Forst. f. Prodr. 1786, 5.

Peperomia novae-zealandiae Col. in T.N.Z.I. 27, 1895, 394.

Branched, spreading, succulent herb up to ± 2 dm. tall; branches pubescent at nodes. Lvs in whorls of 4-(3) or occ. opp., subsessile, 5-15 × 4-12 mm., rhomboid to suborbicular, fleshy ∞ ± coriac. when dry) dark green above, paler below, ± pubescent when young. Spikes terminal, axis pubescent, 2-4 cm. long; bract orbicular-peltate, subsessile. Ovary partly immersed in axis, ovoid, acute; stigma capitellate. Drupe ovoid, reddish, ± 1·5 mm. long.

DIST.: N. Coastal to lowland forest, often a low epiphyte ― East Cape district westward to L. Rotoehu. Also occurs in Australia and Polynesia. Colenso's sp. from "woods near the East Cape" presents no essential differences.