Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Malvales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Malvaceae
Genus
Plagianthus J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Plagianthus divaricatus J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Char. Gen. Pl., ed. 2. 86, t. 43 (1776)
Vernacular Name(s):
Houi; mākaka; Marsh ribbonwood; Runa; Salt marsh ribbonwood
 Description

Erect densely divaricately branched shrub up to c. 2 m. tall (occ. prostrate on boulder beaches). Branchlets us. flexible, ± interlaced, densely to sparsely clad in stellate hairs, soon glab., grooved; bark dark brown. Lvs alt. or in small fascicles on arrested branchlets: of young plants ± 2–3 cm. × 3–5 mm., membr., linear- to spathulate-oblong, on petioles ± 3 mm. long, glab. or nearly so, midrib obscure; of adult plants ± 5–15–(20) × 0·5–2–(4) mm., ± clad in stellate hairs, linear-spathulate to narrow-obovate, subcoriac., us. obtuse, ± falcate, midrib prominent. Reversion shoots occ. with lvs up to 40 × 5 mm. Fls up to c. 5 mm. diam., axillary, solitary or in few-fld cymes on arrested branchlets; peduncles and pedicels ± 3 mm. long. Calyx campanulate, ± 2 mm. diam., teeth triangular; corolla tube ± 2 mm. long, exserted; lobes about oblong, acute, yellowish; anthers 8–12, sessile on staminal tube. Ovary 1–(2)-celled; ovule 1 per cell; stigma clavate or flattened. Mature fr. globose, ± 5 mm. diam., occ. didymous, densely clad in appressed stellate hairs, dehiscing irregularly from apex; seeds 1–(3).

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Sep.–Nov.; Fruiting: Dec.–Mar.

 Bibliography
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. [Not Threatened]
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. [Not Threatened]
Forster, J.R.; Forster, G. 1776: Characteres Generum Plantarum quas in Itinere ad Insulas Maris Australis Collegerunt, Descripserunt, Delinearunt, Annis. Edition 2. White, Cadell & Elmsley, London.
Melville, R. 1966: Contributions to the Flora of Australia: VII. Generic Delimitation in the Plagianthus Complex. Kew Bulletin 20: 511–516.