Flora of New Zealand Series

coral berry

Shrub 1-1.5 m high; stems thin, hairy, forming a dense bush. Petioles to 3 mm long, densely hairy, channelled above. Lamina 2-5 × 1-3 cm, ovate, elliptic, to almost suborbicular, entire, glaucescent and hairy beneath, densely so on veins, glabrous above except for midrib; veins impressed above, raised below; base rounded to subcordate; apex rounded, mucronulate. Fls in dense axillary clusters and short terminal spikes. Peduncles densely hairy. Bracts and bracteoles 0.7-1.5 mm long, broadly ovate, densely hairy. Calyx c. 1 mm long; lobes ciliate. Corolla c. 4 mm long, campanulate, whitish or pale pink, densely hairy inside. Stamens included. Style included, pilose. Drupes 5-8 mm diam., subglobose, purplish rose, often with abortive frs in same infructescence; pulp ± mealy. Pyrenes 2.5-3 mm long, whitish.

N.: established around Pukepuke Lagoon (Manawatu), and in a swampy area behind Trentham Racecourse (Hutt Valley).

E. U.S.A. 1958

FL Dec-Feb.

Coral berry long-persists around old or abandoned homesteads and spontaneous plants are occasionally seen in many areas. It is a common garden shrub in colder parts of N.Z. where it is valued for its autumn and winter display of clusters of small purplish rose frs along the slender stems. The lvs often do not fall until well into June. Coral berry is often known as S. vulgaris.