North Island: Ruahine Range, Colenso (Handbook). South Island: Marlborough and Nelson—Mount Stokes, J. H. Macmahon! Torrent Bay, Sandy Bay, Kingsley! Maitai Valley, Mount Owen, Wangapeka, T.F.C.; Mount Rochfort, W. Townson! Otago—Dusky Bay, Forster, Menzies, Enys! Sea-level to 4000ft. December–January.
Very close to P. buxifolia, but always to be distinguished by the glabrous branches.
3. P. Traversii, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 243.—A small very stout usually erect densely branched shrub 6–24 in. high; branches stout, often tortuous, prominently tubercled at the insertion of the fallen leaves, glabrous or slightly pubescent, usually with a tuft of silky hairs in the axils of the leaves; bark blackishbrown. Leaves closely quadrifariously imbricated, sessile, ⅙–⅓ in. long, oblong or obovate-oblong to suborbicular, obtuse, thick and coriaceous, quite glabrous, midrib evident or obscure, veinless, margins often edged with red; floral leaves larger and broader, often Twice or thrice as large, sometimes drying a peculiar verdigrisgreen. Flowers numerous, densely capitate, white or pinkish-white, polygamo-diœcious. Perianth densely silky-villous, ¼–⅓ in. long, the females shorter and broader than the males. Anthers in the male flowers almost reaching the top of the lobes, in the female flowers small and empty and on very short filaments. Ripe fruit not seen.
South Island: Marlborough—Kaikoura Mountains, Monro, Buchanan! Nelson—Mount Percival and Clarence Valley, T.F.C. Canterbury—Hurunui Mountains, Travers; Upper Waimakariri, Kirk! Ashburton Mountains, Potts! Rangitata Valley, Armstrong! Mount Dobson, T.F.C. Otago—Mount St. Bathan's, Mount Ida, Petrie! 2000–4500 ft. December–February.
In its ordinary state a distinct little species, easily recognised by the very robust habit, stout scarred and usually glabrous branches, small broad leaves, and numerous rather large flowers. Diffuse or almost prostrate forms, with slightly pubescent branches, show an approach to P. lævigata.
4. P. buxifolia, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 243. —A small stout erect compactly branched shrub 1–5 ft. high; branches stout, densely clothed with coarse short greyish hairs; bark brownish-black, muricated. Leaves quadrifariously imbricated, shortly petioled, ¼–¾ in. long, oblong-ovate or elliptic-oblong, acute or obtuse, coriaceous, glabrous, keeled, much wrinkled beneath, lateral veins conspicuous or obsolete, often verdigris-green when dry; floral leaves usually larger and broader. Flowers numerous, densely capitate, white or pink, polygamo-diœcious. Perianth silky-villous, ¼–⅓ in. long; females shorter and broader. Anthers in the male flowers on long filaments, almost reaching the top of the perianth-lobes; in the females minute, empty. Ripe fruit not seen.—P. stylosa, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xx. (1888) 205. P. subsimilis, Col. l.c. xxviii. (1896) 609. P. montana, Col. l.c. xxxi. (1899) 279.
