Flora of New Zealand Series

Type locality: "Sandy rocks on the Hokianga, near the immediate shore". Type: K, A. Cunningham, 1826.

Low-growing, with slender flexible, sprawling to prostrate, interlacing branches and branchlets, forming a ± cushionlike mass up to c. 2 m. diam., occ. up to 2m. tall. Branchlets ∞ with yellowish brown bark, pubescent when young. Lvs in opp. Pairs or fascicles, on yellowish petioles. Stipules rounded-obtuse to broadly triangular, ± pubescent, ciliolate. Lamina coriac., yellowish green, linear obtuse, 7-12 × 1-1·5- (2) mm. Midrib alone evident. Fls solitary, terminal on short branchlets. ♂ with calyx 0 or vestigial; corolla funnelform, lobes ovate-oblong, subacute, ± = tube. ♀ with acute, narrow-triangular calyx-teeth; corolla funnelform, lobes narrow-oblong, obtuse. Drupe translucent, very pale to pale blue, often with darker flecks, globose, c. 7 mm. diam.

DIST.: N., S., St., Ch. Coastal sands throughout.

Kirk (Stud. Fl. 1899, 240-241) distinguishes 2 forms under his account of C. acerosa : "Two prevailing forms may be distinguished, though closely connected by intermediates, as follows:--(1) arenaria. Branches numerous, with yellowish-brown bark . . . Leaves numerous, very narrow-linear, close-set. Drupe rarely exceeding 1/6 in. long, white, translucent. (2) brunnea. Branches fewer, stouter, with dark-brown bark . . . Leaves more distant . . . Drupes larger, 1/4 in. long, subglobose or broadly oblong, translucent, pale-blue."