Coriaria arborea Linds.

Stout shrub, much-branched from base, up to ± 6 m. tall; trunk short, inclined, up to c. 3 dm. diam. Rarely a tree with erect cylindric trunk up to 3 m. long. Branches ± fluted; bark dark brown to grey. Branchlets with distinct lenticels and lf-scars, ± quadrangular, at first green. Lvs opp. or with occ. whorls of 3, on stout petioles 1–3 mm. long. Lamina (30)–50–80–(100) × (25)–40–50–(60) mm.; broad-ovate to broadly ovate-oblong, rather abruptly acuminate or acute, subcordate to rounded at base; subcoriac., dark shining green above, paler below, glab.; 2–4 lateral veins conspicuous, arching to apex; margins flat or slightly undulate. Racemes (10)–15–20–(30) cm. long, slender, drooping, pubescent. Fls ∞, rather distant to rather close-set, on patent very slender pedicels up to c. 5 mm. long. Sepals broad-ovate to ovate-oblong, 3–4 mm. long, ± crenulate; petals ovate-oblong, c. 1·5 mm. long. Ripe carpels 5, surrounded by enlarged, succulent, dark purple petals c. 4 mm. long.

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

Flowering: Oct.–Mar.; Fruiting: Nov.–Apr.