Flora of New Zealand Series

firethorn

Evergreen shrub up to 2.5-(5) m high when mature; stems generally dense and spreading, often spine-tipped; young stems grey-tomentose; older stems reddish brown, shiny. Lf petiole 2-3-(6) mm long, channelled above, tomentose; blade narrowly oblanceolate to oblong, (10)-20-55-(65) × 4-12-(14) mm, obtuse or obscurely retuse with a short mucro, angustate at base, dark green and glabrous above, lanate and pale grey-green below; margin slightly recurved, entire or sometimes with a few minute serrations near tip of largest lvs. Corymbs up to c. 30 mm across; pedicels 6-18 mm long, grey-tomentose. Sepals triangular, c. 0.8 mm long, greyish lanate, acute. Petals obovate or broadly-elliptic, 3.5-5 mm long, rounded, white. Stamens ± = petals. Fr. ± depressed-globose, 4-6 × 6-7 mm, glossy orange.

N.: N. Auckland (Matakana, Broadwood and Lake Omapere), Auckland (Waikumete), S. Auckland (Rotorua, Volcanic Plateau), Opotiki District, Hutt Valley; S.: Nelson (Todd Valley).

China 1958

Wasteland, scrub, roadsides.

FL Dec-Jan FT Apr-Aug.

P. angustifolia can be easily distinguished from all other Pyracantha spp. by the persistently tomentose petioles and lf undersurfaces. The record of P. coccinea semi-wild in the Opotiki-East Cape region [Heginbotham, M. and Esler, A. E., New Zealand J. Bot. 23: 405 (1985)] is in error for P. angustifolia. However, P. coccinea is sometimes cultivated (see notes under P. crenulata for distinguishing characters).