Flora of New Zealand Series

Type locality: Upper Awatere R., near Molesworth Homestead. Type: BD 72444, H. H. Allan, 2/11/49.

Erect, much-branched, ball-like, up to ± 8 dm. diam.; branches stout, with dark brown to almost black bark; branchlets crowded, slender, densely clad in white subappressed hairs. Lvs at first close-set, erect, becoming patent, sessile by broad base or very shortly petioled. Lamina ovate to ovate-oblong, shallowly concave, acute, 4-6·5 × 2.5-4 mm., coriac., densely clad on both surfaces with appressed silvery-white hairs. Subfloral lvs ovate-oblong ± 6 × 4 mm. Infl. of terminal 8-10-fld or more heads. Per. white, subpilose; ♂ with tube ± 8 mm. long, lobes ovate to ovate-oblong ± 3 mm. long, white-hairy; ♀ tube ± 5 mm. long, lobes ± 2 mm. long. Fr. baccate, white or rose to red, ovoid, ± 3 mm. long, sts dry.

DIST.: S. Montane grassland, open and rocky places; upper drainage areas of R. Wairau to R. Hurunui.