Flora of New Zealand Series

D. squarrosum Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. 1, 1844, 48 non R. Br. Prodr. 1810, 556.

Type locality: Manukau Harbour. Type: K, Colenso.

Erect, up to 3 m. or occ. 6 m. tall; branches with blackish brown bark; branchlets slender. Lvs subcoriac., spreading to somewhat reflexed; sheath gradually narrowed into lamina ± 3·5-12.5 cm. × (3)-4-8 mm., narrowed into long acuminate apex; margins finely serrulate. Infl. of clustered 4-8-fld racemes c. 2.5-5 cm. long, terminal or subterminal on short lateral branchlets. Bracts persistent, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate. Sepals acute, ± ciliolate, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, ± = corolla-tube, which is c. 4 mm. long. Anthers included, style stout, capsule concealed by persistent sepals.

DIST.: N. Shrubland from near North Cape to c. lat. 38 º 30'.

Oliver (loc. cit. 1929, 698) points out that the laminae of lvs of juvenile plants attain 15 cm. × 7 mm.