Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Small tree, evergreen, usually 2–7 m in height. Apparently hemiparasitic on roots of other plants.

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite. Blades linear elliptic (rarely conduplicate falcate); (4.6–)5.7–8.1(–8.2) cm long × (1.4–)1.5–1.7(–1.8) cm wide. Apex acute. Base cuneate. More glaucous and slightly lighter on the lower surface; evergreen, simple yellowish–green to grayish–green, chartaceous (often translucent), often drooping. Margins entire and involute. Lateral veins slightly apparent on adaxial surface; midvein yellowish. Petioles yellowish to pinkish, (7.0–)8.1– 16.3(–17.0) mm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences cymes, sparse terminal or axillary. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx (sepals) absent. Corolla greenish–white throughout (sometimes turning red with age); floral tubes campanulate to cylindrical, (5–)6–9(–11) mm long × 2–3 mm wide, without vertical keel below each corolla lobe; corolla lobes 4, concave with thickened margins, 3–4(–5) mm long × 1.5–3 mm wide. Stamens 4. Ovary inferior; stigma lobes 3.

Fruit: Drupes elliptic; with apical ring; 13–20 mm long. Seeds muricate; with pointed beak on one end.

Ploidy:

Habitat: In Diospyros mixed mesic forest or occasionally in <i>Metrosideros</i> wet forest.

Elevation Range: 120–750 m.