Flora of New Zealand Series

Type locality: near base of Mount Buckland, Paparoa Range. Type: A, 6924, W. Townson.

Shrub or tree up to c. 6 m. tall; branches stout, bark dark brown to almost black. Lvs in dense clusters towards apex of branches; sheath gradually narrowed into stiff coriac. lamina 15-30 cm. × 8-15 mm., very gradually narrowed into fine point; margins minutely serrulate-crenulate. Panicles arising below lvs, compact, drooping, 5-8-(10) cm. long; main stalk and branches stout. Bracts c. 4 mm. broad, abruptly contracted into obtuse tips. Fls crowded, subsessile; sepals ovate-oblong, obtuse Corolla ± campanulate; tube c. 4-5 mm. long; lobes oblong, obtuse c. 2-3 mm. long, strongly reflexed. Anthers distinctly exserted; style c. 5 mm. long, rather slender. Capsule slightly depressed, globose, c. (3)-4 mm. long.

DIST.: S. Lowland to montane forest and shrubland, south-west Nelson to north Westland.