Flora of New Zealand Series

M. diffusa A. Cunn. in Ann. nat. Hist. 3, 1839, 114 non Smith in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 3, 1797, 268.

Liane up to 10 m. or more tall; branchlets terete, often drooping. Lvs on stout petioles 2-4 mm. long; lamina coriac., glab., elliptic-ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, rather abruptly narrowed to acute or subacute apex, 35-90 × 20-35 mm. Infl. of large terminal compound cymes with ∞ fls. Receptacle urceolate to funnelform, 8 × 5 mm., exceeding ovary; sepals ovate, obtuse, reflexed, ± 2 mm. long; petals white, suborbicular, ± 5 × 5 mm., ± pubescent; stamens whitish, 15-25 mm. long. Ovary adnate to receptacle; capsule urceolate ± 6-9 mm. diam.

DIST.: N. Lowland to lower montane forests from lat. 35° to 38°, rather local, mostly in Agathis forest.

FL. 12-3. FT. 1-4.