Flora of New Zealand Series

P. elegans Raoul in Ann. Sci. nat. Sér. 3, 2, 1844, 121.

P. microcarpum Putt. Syn. Pitt. 1839, 15?

Tarata, Lemonwood.

Type locality: "Shores of Onawero Bay, Wangaroa". Type: K, "1833 R. Cunningham".

Polygamodioec. tree with spreading branches, up to 12 m. tall, trunk up to 6 dm. diam., bark pale. Lvs alt., often approximate, 5-10-(15) × 2.5-4 cm., on rather slender petioles 1-2 cm. long. Lamina subcoriac., glossy, scented, elliptic to elliptic-oblong, acute to subacute, narrowed to petiole; margins us. undulate, midrib pale. Fls fragrant, in terminal compound umbels, subcorymbosely arranged. Peduncles and pedicels with scattered hairs; peduncles 1-2 cm. long, pedicels c. 5 mm. long. Sepals ovate to narrow-ovate, pale, membr., c. 2 mm. long; petals narrow-oblong, yellowish, 5-7 mm. long. Capsules glab., finely granulate, ovoid to elliptic in outline, 5-6 mm. long; valves 2 or sts 3; seeds immersed in viscid pulp, remaining ± covered by papery endocarp at dehiscence.

DIST.: N., S. Lowland to montane forest throughout.

FL. 10-12. FT. 10-1 of following year.