Flora of New Zealand Series

Pahautea.

Type locality: Nelson Mountains. Type: K, Bidwill 126.

Tree up to 20 m., trunk up to 1 m. diam., bark falling in narrow thin strips. Branchlets distichous, of juveniles somewhat flattened up to 3 mm. broad, of adults tetragonous. Lvs quadrifarious; lateral in juveniles about 3 mm. long, dorsal and ventral c.1 mm.; in adults all lvs subsimilar, triangular, appressed, acute, c. 2 mm. long. Male strobili c. 2.5 mm. long, sporophylls 7-9, pend., apiculus thin, ovate. Female cones ovoid < 1 cm. long of 4 carpidia with projecting, dorsal, curved mucro. Seeds 2.

DIST.: N., S. Montane to subalpine forests from lat. 36° 50' southwards. In S. also lowland in western forest.

Intermediate forms occur, the status of which is not clear.