Carica pubescens Lenné & K.Koch

Small monoecious tree to  c. 5 m high.  Trunk stout, pale.  Petiole to 50 cm long, to  c. 75 cm long on young vegetative shoots, densely hairy at first, becoming glabrate, terete.  Lamina deeply 5-lobed, to  c. 40 cm long, ± horizontal, hairy beneath, particularly on the veins, glabrous above, ± glaucescent beneath;  base deeply cordate with 2 lobules of basal lobes often overlapping to form a deep rounded sinus;  lobes ± ovate-oblong, 1–5-lobulate.  ♂ fls in hairy axillary corymbs or panicles, pale green, fragrant;  calyx lobes  c. 1.5 mm long, oblong-elliptic;  corolla tube 1.5–2 cm long, hairy outside with lobes  c. 1 cm long, linear and revolute.  ♀ fls similar but peduncles short.  Fr.  c. 8–10 × 4–5 cm, oblong-obovoid, strongly 5-ribbed, yellow;  flesh sweet and aromatic.  Seed  c. 5 mm long, surrounded by transparent aril.  

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

Flowering: Jan.–Dec.