Flora of New Zealand Series

Gynodioecious, deciduous liane with stout main stems to ± 5 m long and 5 cm diam., sparingly branched, sprawling when lacking support; bark pale brownish orange, ± flaking; branchlets hairy at first. Petioles 10-20 mm long, very slender. Lamina (10)-25-30 × (10)-20-25-(30) mm, broad-ovate to suborbicular, sinuate, membranous, remotely and obscurely dentate, green or dark green above, glaucescent below, glabrous except on veins and margins; base subcordate to truncate; apex subacute. Fls solitary or occasionally 2-3 together; pedicels very slender, ± 10 mm long. Floral tube 7-15 mm long. Sepals 6-10 mm long, narrow-ovate, green or nearly so, patent to reflexed. Petals dark purple, 1-5 mm long, narrow-oblong. Stamens of ⚥ fls exserted; filaments 10-15 mm long, purple. Stigma capitate. Berry 5-10 mm long, ± broad-cylindric, dark purple.

N.: Waikato southwards; S.: most districts but in Otago, Southland and Fiordland increasingly rare and local southwards.

Endemic.

Lowland forest, especially in clearings, around margins and in remnant stands.

FL Aug-Dec.