Page:Manual of the New Zealand Flora.djvu/94

54 stouter branches, much larger sharply pointed and more coriaceous deeper-green flat leaves, has a very distinct aspect from P. tenuifolium; so that, notwithstanding the intermediates, I am inclined to regard the differences between the usual states of the two plants as being too pronounced for varietal distinction alone.

3. P. Buchanani, ''Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl.'' 725.—A shrub or small tree 10 to 20 ft. high, with slender spreading or ascending branches; young shoots and leaves silky-pubescent. Leaves alternate, 2–5 in. long, oblong or oblong-lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, rather membranous, acute or acuminate; margins flat, not waved; petioles slender. Peduncles axillary, solitary, slender, ⅓–⅔ in. long, 1-flowered or rarely 2-flowered, glabrous or silky-pubescent. Sepals ovate-oblong, obtuse. Petals linear, dark-purple; claw long. Ovary silky. Capsule less than ½ in. diam., subglobose, 3-valved, on long spreading peduncles.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 47.

4. P. intermedium, ''T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. iv. (1872) 266.—A small tree, in habit and foliage much resembling large specimens of P. tenuifolium;'' bark black; young shoots and leaves pubescent. Leaves 1½–2 in. long, obovate or elliptic-obovate, obtuse or subacute, submembranous or slightly coriaceous, narrowed into rather long petioles; margins flat, not waved. Flowers both terminal and in the axils of the upper leaves, solitary or in 2–3-flowered clusters; peduncles short, pubescent. Sepals oblong, obtuse or subacute, silky. Capsules usually terminal, large, nearly ¾ in. diam., broadly ovoid or obovoid, downy, 2–3-valved; peduncles stout, decurved.—Students' Fl. 48.

5. P. Huttonianum, ''T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst.'' ii. (1870) 92.—A sparingly branched shrub or small tree 10–25 ft. high; bark black; young leaves and branches covered with white floccose tomentum, becoming glabrous when mature. Leaves alternate, 3–5 in. long, broadly oblong elliptical-oblong or obovate-oblong, obtuse or acute, coriaceous, flat; petioles ½–¾ in. long. Flowers either axillary and solitary or in 2–5-flowered axillary and terminal cymes; peduncles slender, covered with loose white tomentum. Sepals