Flora of New Zealand Series

Laurus tarairi A. Cunn. in Ann. nat. Hist. 1, 1838, 379.

Nesodaphne tarairi (A. Cunn.) Hook. f. Fl. N.Z. 1, 1854, 217.

Tarairi.

Type locality: " banks of rivers, Bay of Islands ". Type: K, A. Cunningham, 1826.

Tree up to 20 m. or more tall; trunk up to 1 m. diam.; bark dark brown, smooth; branchlets, young lvs, petioles and infl. branchlets densely clad in reddish brown tomentum. Lvs alt. to subopp., very coriac. on petioles 1-1·5 cm. long; lamina entire, 4-15 × 3-6 cm., glab. above, with impressed veins; ± glaucous below, with the very prominent veins clad in red-brown pubescence, surface with scattered hairs; broadly elliptic- to obovate-oblong, midrib excurrent. Panicles axillary, up to 10 cm. long, branches stout; fls 4-5 mm. diam.; bracts linear, obtuse, caducous; per. segs oblong to obovate, tomentose without. Drupe ovoid to ellipsoid, 2.5-3·5 cm. long, one-seeded; pericarp purple.

DIST.: N. Coastal to lowland forest from near North Cape to lat. 38°.

FL. 9-12. FT. 11-2.