A small genus of about 15 species, scattered through Australia and Tasmania, New Zealand, and the Pacific islands. One of the New Zealand species extends to Australia, the others are endemic.
| * Corolla-lobes not bearded inside. | |
| A large erect shrub. Leaves ¼–⅔ in., narrow-linear, with rigid pungent points | 1. C. acerosa. |
| A large erect shrub. Leaves ½–¾ in., linear-oblong, subacute, not pungent | 2. C. robusta. |
| Small, spreading, prostrate. Leaves ⅛–⅕ in., linear, obtuse, spreading | 3. C. empetrifolia. |
| ** Corolla-lobes densely bearded within. | |
| Sparingly branched, 4–18 in. high. Leaves ¼–⅓ in., linear-oblong, obtuse. Flowers in 3–5-flowered racemes | 4. C. Colensoi. |
| Densely tufted, 2–5 in. Leaves ⅛–⅙ in., linear-oblong, apiculate. Flowers solitary | 5. C. pumila. |
1. C. acerosa, R. Br. Prodr. 539.—An erect or rarely decumbent branching shrub 4–15 ft. high or more; bark black; branches woody, spreading. Leaves spreading or reflexed, ¼–⅔ in. long, acerose, linear or subulate-lanceolate, rigid, pungent-pointed, glaucous beneath, with from 3 to 7 parallel veins, the outer of which often branch towards the margin of the leaf; margins often recurved and cihate. Flowers minute, 110 in. long, solitary and axillary towards the tips of the branches; peduncles short, recurved, clothed with imbricating obtuse bracts. Calyx-lobes obtuse. Corolla-tube not much longer than the calyx; lobes spreading, acute, usually glabrous within. Stamens with very short filaments; anthers half-exserted. Drupe variable in size, ⅕–⅓ in. diam., globose, succulent, white or red.—A. Cunn. Precur. n. 407; Raoul, Choix, 44; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 163; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 176; Benth. Fl. Austral. iv. 170; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 108. C. articulata, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxviii. (1896) 600. Leucopogon Forsteri, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 216. Epacris juniperina, Forst. Prodr. n. 71.
Var. a.—Leaves rather shorter and broader, with shorter pungent points; lateral veins often branching outwards.
Var. oxycedrus.—Leaves usually longer and narrower, with longer pungent points; veins all unbranched.—C. oxycedrus, R. Br. Prodr. 540.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Abundant from the North Cape southwards. Sea-level to 2500 ft. Mingimingi. August–November.
2. C. robusta, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 177.—Habit of C. acerosa, but much stouter. Leaves spreading, ½–¾ in. long, ⅛–⅙ in. broad, narrow linear-oblong or linear-lanceolate, obtuse or subacute and callous at the tip, rigid and coriaceous, 5–11-nerved beneath, the nerves often branchmg on the outer side; margins usually recurved. Flowers ⅛ in. long, solitary and axillary, more abundantly produced than in C. acerosa; peduncles curved, clothed
