Flora of New Zealand Series

Achras costata A. Cunn. in Ann. nat. Hist. 2, 1839, 46 and later authors non Endl. Prodr. Fl. norf. 1833, 49.

A. novo-zelandica F. Muell. Fragm. Phyt. Austr. 9, 1875, 72.

Sideroxylon novo-zelandicum (F. Muell.) Hemsl. in Kew Bull. 1908, 459.

P. costata (Endl.) Pierre in Sched. Herb. Paris var. austro-montana H. Lam in Blumea 5, 1942, 6.

Tree up to c. 15 m. tall; trunk up to 1 m. diam.; closely branched, branchlets clad in appressed hairs and ± lactescent. Lvs on pubescent, lactescent petioles up to ± 10 mm. long. Lamina (4)-5-10-(15) × 2-5 cm., entire, coriac., lustrous, glab. except on midrib below, elliptic-to obovate-oblong, obtuse or occ. lvs retuse, cuneately narrowed to base. Lateral veins ∞, at rather wide angle to midrib. Fls axillary (cauliflory occ.), solitary or rarely 2 together, ± (3)-4-(6) mm. diam., on stout curved peduncles up to 12 mm. long. Calyx 4-(5)-toothed, teeth about ovate, pubescent, obtuse; hairs centrally affixed. Corolla but little > calyx, deeply 4-5-partite; lobes obovate-oblong, ± 4 mm. long. Stamens 5, filaments thick; staminodes 5, subulate. Ovary 4-5-loculed; fr. c. 2.5 cm. long, ovoid to ellipsoid. Seeds (1)-2-3-(4), hard, curved, almost as long as fr.

DIST.: N. Coastal and on adjacent islets from near North Cape to Tolaga Bay on the east, and near Maunganui Bluff and a little north of Manukau Harbour on the west. Tawapou.