a slender peduncle, variable in length, very slender, ¼–1 in. long. Anthers very numerous, often laxly placed; connective obtuse. Female flowers solitary, axillary, seated on the top of a short swollen peduncle. Fruit a small oblong-ovoid nut; peduncle much enlarged, fleshy and succulent, bright-red, usually with 2 acute projections at the top (adnate bracts), 1 on each side of the nut.—Raoul, Choix, 41; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 232; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 257; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 40; Pilger, Pflanzenreich, iv. 5, 85. P. montanus, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii. (1895) 395.
North and South Islands: Subalpine localities from the summit of Moehau (Cape Colville) and Hikurangi southwards, not uncommon. 2000–5500 ft.
5. P. ferrugineus, D. Don. in Lamb. Gen. Pinet. ed. ii. (1832) 189.—A tall forest-tree 50–80 ft. high with a rather narrow round-topped head; trunk 1–3 ft. diam.; bark greyish-brown or almost black, scaling off in large flakes. Leaves distichous, close-set, spreading, ½–¾ in. long, linear, falcate, acute or subacute, 1-nerved, margins recurved, red-brown when dry; those of young plants longer, narrower, and more acute. Flowers diœcious. Males axillary, solitary, sessile, cylindric, equalling or rather longer than the leaves. Anthers numerous, closely packed; connective obtuse. Female flowers solitary or very rarely geminate at the top of a curved peduncle clothed with minute scale-like bracts. Fruit large, broadly oblong, drupaceous, ¾ in. long, reddish-purple with a glaucous bloom, top of the peduncle not enlarged nor succulent.—A. Cunn. Precur. n. 327; Raoul, Choix, 41; Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 542; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 232; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 257; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 84; Pilger, Pflanzenreich, iv. 5, 66.
North and South Islands, Stewakt Island: Abundant in forests throughout. Sea-level to 3000 ft. Miro; Toromiro; Black-pine.
Wood strong, hard and compact, straight-grained, not durable in exposed situations. The fleshy drupes form the chief food of the wood-pigeon during the winter months.
6. P. spicatus, R. Br. in Benn. Pl. Jav. Rar. 40.—A tall round-headed forest-tree 40–80 ft. high; branches numerous, crowded, erect; trunk 2–4 ft. diam.; bark black or bluish-black, scaling off in large flakes. Young plants with long slender flexuous and pendulous branches, clothed towards the tips with reddish-brown leaves. Leaves of mature plants distichous, ⅓–½ in. long, linear, straight or slightly falcate, obtuse or apiculate, coriaceous, green above, glaucous beneath. Flowers diœcious. Males numerous, ⅕–⅓ in. long, linear, obtuse, horizontal, arranged in axillary spikes. Anthers closely packed; connective ovate, acute. Female flowers in 3–8-flowered spikes. Fruit black or nearly so, globose, succulent, ¼–⅓ in. diam.; fleshy receptacle wanting.—Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 543; Raoul, Choix, 41; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 232; Handb. N.Z. Fl.
