Coriaria sarmentosa G.Forst.
C. sarmentosa Forst. f. Prodr. 1786, 71, fide Oliver.
C. sarmentosa Forst. f. Pl. Esc. 1786, 46 (part, fide Oliver).
C. tutu Lindsay Contr. N.Z. Bot. 1868, 84.
Subshrub with close-set erect or spreading stems up to ± 1 m. tall, arising from a branched rhizome. Stems branched above; branches and branchlets quadrangular, ± summer-green. Lvs on flat petioles up to 2 mm. long; lamina (3)-4-5 × (1·5)-2-3 cm., broad- to narrow-ovate to ovate-oblong, abruptly acuminate or acute, subcoriac. to submembr.; 4-6 lateral nerves prominent, arching to apex. Racemes ascending to spreading, ± 5-8 cm. long; pedicels 3-4-5 mm. long; fls rather laxly placed; sepals ovate-oblong, ± 2-3 mm. long; petals slightly shorter. Carpels 5-10.
DIST.: N., S., St. Coastal to upper montane in open places, sts forming extensive communities, especially on debris slopes and alluvial ground.
FL. 9-2. FT. 10-4.
Oliver (loc. cit. 32) suggests Dusky Sound as the type locality. He remarks: "Two forms, which may be regarded as habitat forms, can be defined. In the prevalent one the leaves are thin and the veins not prominent. In the northern coastal form which is common on the shores of Cook Strait the leaves are thicker and the nerves much more conspicuous." Oliver (loc. cit. 31) considers the sp. as defined by him, to be "summer green only, dying down to the ground each winter." I have been unable quite to confirm this; even in severe winters I have found only the young growth killed, in mild winters some leaves may persist and again function. I find the number of carpels to vary from 5-10 as stated by Oliver. Rowe (T.N.Z.I. 19, 1887, 317) "Observations on the Development of the Flower of C. ruscifolia L.", describes the fls from several gatherings-"All the four whorls of the flower have six segments each."
Lindsay (loc. cit. 84) gives a long account of his C. tutu. It may be that his name may have to be taken up when and if satisfactory type material is located of Forster's C. sarmentosa. I have not seen Lindsay's account in Proc. Brit. Ass. Cambridge 1862.
