Syzygium australe (J.C.Wendl. ex Link) B.Hyland

Large shrub or small tree to c. 10 m high; bark smooth, light grey; pneumatophores 0. Branchlets ± pendent, angular. Lvs aromatic when crushed; petiole < 10 mm long. Lamina mostly 4–10–(13) × 1–3.5–(4) cm, sometimes smaller near base of branchlets and below infl., often narrowly elliptic, sometimes elliptic or obovate, glossy, slightly undulate; veins numerous, conspicuous and parallel; base attenuate or narrowly cuneate; apex mostly cuspidate to acuminate, but sharply acute in obovate lvs. Cymes with 3–25 fls, terminal or in the upper axils of short leafy branchlets, to c. 15 cm diam.; peduncles to c. 4 cm long; pedicels shorter, slender, angular. Hypanthium 4–6 mm long at anthesis, obconic, generally dark red at least on exposed side; pseudopedicel hardly evident; calyx lobes 2–4 mm long, broadly triangular-ovate, sometimes dark red, persistent on fr. Petals c. 4 mm diam., free, suborbicular, white, caducous. Stamens to c. 13 mm long, white. Style ± = longest stamens. Fr. 1–2–(2.5) × 0.7–1.5–(2) cm, oblong to obovoid, crimson to crimson-purple, ± glossy. Seed 1 or few, large; cotyledons green.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Jan.–Jul.