Flora of New Zealand Series

P. rosea Raoul in Ann. Sci. nat. Sèr. 3, 2, 1844, 118.

Type locality: Akaroa "ad sylvrum margines." Type: P, Raoul.

Robust liane up to c.8 m. tall, much-branched; branchlets slender, ± pubescent. Lvs on pubescent petioles up to ± 6 mm. long. Lamina subcoriac., linear to narrow-oblong to lanceolate, often widest at base and gradually tapering to apex; (3)-6-8-(10) cm. × (2)-3-5-(10) mm.; base truncate to subcordate to cuneately narrowed; apex ± acute, sts apiculate (an occ. lamina obtuse to retuse); margins mostly entire or mostly rather coarsely lobulate (us. on separate plants). Fls ± 5-6 mm. long, in lax subpaniculate cymes up to c.10 cm. long; bracts sts foliaceous, us. small; peduncles and pedicels pubescent. Calyx deeply cut; lobes narrow ovate-lanceolate, ± = corolla-tube. Corolla rose to dark red, lobes narrow-ovate to almost linear, acute. Stamens exserted; anthers acute at apex, sagittate at base. Follicles up to ± 12 cm. × 5 mm.

DIST.: S. Common on Port Hills and Banks Peninsula.

Further distribution needs closer study. Very similar forms occur throughout S. west of divide. Dark-fld plants with lvs of somewhat similar lf-form occur sporadically in N. from about lat. 37º southwards, e.g. Waimarino, Thames, Wellington.

Raoul's illustration (Choix 1846, t. 21) shows a spray with ± sinuate, entire lvs. In the type locality this form appears to hybridize freely with the lobulate-lvd form.