Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Malpighiales Martius
Family
Phyllanthaceae
Genus
Poranthera Rudge
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Poranthera alpina Cheeseman ex Hook.f., Hooker's Icon. Pl. 14, t. 1366 B. (1881)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Oreoporanthera alpina (Cheeseman ex Hook.f.) Hutch.
 Description

Decumbent dioec. herb, woody at base, up to 10 cm. or more tall, glab.; branches and branchlets us. close-set. Lvs close-set, opp. and decussate to alt., ascending, becoming patent, on erect petioles c. 1 mm. long; stipules < 1 mm. long, ovate-triangular; lamina 3–5 mm. long, coriac. to submembr., revolute nearly to stout midvein. Subfloral lvs flatter. Infl. of solitary fls in axils of ultimate lvs, on pedicels ± 2 mm. long. Sepals 5, white, slightly stained green, oblong, obtuse, 1–1·5 mm. long; petals 0; filaments slender; ovary subglobose, 6-lobed, 3-celled. Fr. c. 2 mm. diam., dehiscing into 3 2-valved cocci. Seeds wrinkled.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Fruiting: Nov.–Feb.

 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [as Oreoporanthera alpina (Cheeseman ex Hook.f.) Hutch.] [Naturally uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76. [as Oreoporanthera alpina (Cheeseman ex Hook.f.) Hutch.]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Naturally Uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Naturally Uncommon]
Hooker, J.D. 1880–1882: Hooker's Icones Plantarum. Vol. 14. Williams & Norgate, London.