Leaves petiolate, exceedingly variable in size and shape, even on the same plant, ⅕–¾ in. long or more, broadly oblong or obovate or orbicular, rounded or retuse at the tip, rarely subacute, cordate or truncate or rounded at the base, often contracted in the middle, sometimes 3-lobed, quite smooth, glabrous or the petiole puberulous, coriaceous or almost membranous, margins even, entire; stipules deciduous. Spikes axillary and terminal, long or short, simple or compound, glabrous or puberulous, sometimes reduced to 2 or 3 flowers, at other times forming a panicle 1–1½ in. long or more. Flowers small, diœcious. Stamens 8. Stigmas very broad, fimbriate. Fruiting-perianth much enlarged, often ¼–⅓ in. diam., succulent, waxy-white, forming a fleshy cup surrounding the fruit, in some varieties unaltered and herbaceous. Nut black, shining, deeply triquetrous.—Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 236. M. microphyila, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xx. (1888) 204. M. paucifolia, M. trilobata, and M. truncata, Col. l.c. xxi. (1889) 99–101. Polygonum complexum, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 357; Raoul, Choix, 42; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 210.
North and South Islands: Abundant throughout, ascending to 2000 ft. Pohuehue. November–April.
Varying much in the size and shape of the leaves, the degree of development of the spikes, and the extent to which the perianth enlarges and becomes fleshy in fruit. Mr. Colenso made no less than 4 species, based mainly on variations in the above characters, but his own specimens show how inconstant these distinctions are, and how little they can be relied upon.
3. M. axillaris, Walp. Ann. i. 552.—A small much-branched prostrate or diffuse shrubby plant, usually forming densely matted patches 3–12 in. diam., but sometimes open and straggling; stems and branches woody; branchlets puberulous. Leaves on rather long petioles, small, 110–13 long, broadly oblong or ovate-oblong or almost orbicular, obtuse or retuse, rounded at the base, flat, quite glabrous, dotted beneath. Flowers small, solitary or 2 together in the axils of the leaves, or the males rarely forming short few-flowered spikes at the ends of the branchlets; pedicels slender. Stigmas fimbriate. Perianth succulent in fruit or almost unaltered. Nut triquetrous with obtuse angles, black, smooth and shining, rather longer than the perianth.—Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 236; Benth. Fl. Austral. v. 275. M. hypogæa, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxi. (1889) 98. Polygonum axillare, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 211.
North Island: Mountain districts in the interior, from Taupo and the East Cape southwards. South Island: Common in mountain districts throughout. Sea-level to 4500 ft. December–March.
Also found in Tasmania and Australia, and reported from Lord Howe Island.
4. M. ephedrioides, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 211.—A much-branched prostrate shrub; stems 9–36 in. long or more, rigid and wiry, deeply grooved, leafless and rush-like or sparingly leafy;
