Flora of New Zealand Series

Tree up to 10 m. or more tall; trunk up to 6 dm. or more diam., sts much-branched from near base; bark greyish white; branchlets brittle; wood soft, white. Lvs on slender petioles ± 2 cm. long; lamina lanceolate-oblong to elliptic-oblong, 5-15 × 3-5 cm., submembr., coarsely and obtusely serrate (sts obscurely toothed); apex acute to acuminate or obtuse (all forms may be found on same plant). Infl. of 2-10 fasicled fls on slender pedicels 5-10 mm. long; fascicles axillary or on branchlets below lvs. Fls 3-4 mm. diam.; bracts just below fls; calyx lobes minute; petals greenish yellow, obtuse. Anthers sessile, connective not produced, scale minute; stigma 4-6-lobed. Berry violet to dark blue or purplish, 4-5 mm. long, obovoid to subglobose; seeds 3-6.

DIST.: K., N., S., St. Lowland to montane light forest and margins through- out. Mahoe, Whitey-wood.

FL. 11-2. FT. 11-3.

Specimens from Mayor Id show lvs 19-24 × 9-11 cm. with almost crenate toothing. Sucker shoots on mainland plants often approach these dimensions.