Flora of New Zealand Series

Melaleuca lucida Forst. f. Prodr. 1786, 38 non Linn. f. Suppl. Pl. 1781, 342.

Southern Rata.

Tree up to 15 m. or more tall; trunk up to 1 m. or more diam.; sts reduced to a shrub; branchlets subterete, glab. Lvs on petioles ± 5 mm. long; lamina coriac., (25)-30-50-(60) × (10) -15-20 mm., glab. Infl. of terminal cymes on peduncles up to 10 mm. long; receptacle obconic, silky, produced beyond adnate ovary. Sepals oblong-triangular to ovate, c. 3 mm. long; petals light red, suborbicular, c. 5 mm. long. Stamens light red ± 2 cm. long. Capsules urceolate, ± 8-9 mm. long, exceeded by receptacle.

DIST.: N., S., St., Sn., A., C. Lowland to montane or occ. subalpine forests and shrubland from lat. 36° southwards, especially west of divide in S. where it may be dominant.

FL. 11-1-(3). FT. 12-2-(4).