Flora of New Zealand Series

Panax linearis Hook. f. Fl. N.Z. 1, 1853, 93.

Nothopanax lineare (Hook. f.) Harms in Pflanzenfam. 3 (8), 1894, 48.

Type locality: Chalky Inlet. Type: K, Lyall.

Shrub up to c. 3 m. tall; branches few, spreading, with scattered small simple to trifid scales. Lvs of juveniles ascending, c. 15-25 × 0·5-1 cm., narrow-linear, subacute to retuse, obscurely sinuately crenate-serrate, midrib pale, prominent, c. 1-1·5 mm. wide, veins obscure; petioles very short, stout. Lvs of adults on stout petioles c. 5 mm. long, linear to linear-lanceolate, acute and mucronate to obtuse, 5-10 × 0.75-1 cm., obscurely to distinctly and distantly crenate-serrate. Umbels us. compound, terminal and occ. axillary; primary rays 3-10, umbellules 5-10-fld. Ovary 3-5-loculed, style-branches 3-5, connate at base, recurved at tips. Fr. broadly oblong-ovoid, c. 5 × 4 mm.

DIST.: S. Subalpine scrub, high altitude forest, descending to lowlands in the southern part of its range, chiefly west of divide, from north-west Nelson southwards.

FL.- FT. 1-2.

The type has two lfy branchlets in fr.; lvs 5-8 × 1-1·5 cm., minutely denticulate-serrate. Frs c. 5 mm. diam.