Flora of New Zealand Series

C. cuneata Hook. f. Fl. N.Z. 1, 1853, 110 p.p. non Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. 1, 1844, 21.

Type locality: Mount Holdsworth. Type: W, D. Petrie and B. C. Aston.

Spreading shrub up to c. 3 m. tall, us. shorter, sts reduced to ± 5 cm. when much exposed (the lvs also reduced). Branches rather stout; branchlets subtetragonous, ± pubescent. Lvs fascicled on short branches; petioles short, stout. Stipules ovate- oblong, obtuse, glab. or nearly so on surfaces, sheathing at base; marginal cilia long, white. Lamina thick, coriac., dark green above, paler below; cuneate-oblong to narrow-obovate, ± curved, obtuse to subacute, cuneately narrowed to base, (5)-15-20 × (1·5)-2-4-6 mm. Midrib obscure above, evident (and sts a few secondary veins) below. Fls solitary, terminal on short branchlets. ♂ without calyx; corolla campanulate, lobes oblong, obtuse, ± = tube. ♀ with linear obtuse calyx-teeth ± 2 mm. long; corolla tubular, lobes narrowly ovate-oblong, > tube. Drupe scarlet, oblong, 5-6 mm. long.

DIST.: N., S. Higher montane to subalpine forest, shrubland, grassland, boggy places, herbfield, from Mount Hikurangi and Maungapohatu southwards.

Oliver (loc. cit. 53) remarks: "This species exists in a multitude of forms, many of which can be correlated with differences in the habitat. When, however, a series from similar habitats, for instance, the beech forests, are compared, it is found that different forms are confined to different districts. As a general rule the leaves in the North Island forms are on an average larger and broader than those in the South Island . . . On Mount Egmont this species is distinguished by its large, thick, and broad leaves. This form is referred to as. C. egmontiana by Cockayne [Veg. N.Z. ed. 2, 1928, 337]."