Escallonia bifida Link & Otto ex Engl.

Densely branched shrub up to 3 m high, sometimes taller and forming a small tree; twigs appearing glabrous, actually with microscopic hairs, striate and often viscid; older branches with grey, flaky bark. Lvs on younger branches, usually elliptic, sometimes narrowly obovate, (3)–5–8 × 1–2.5 cm, mostly obtuse and sometimes notched at apex, sometimes subacute, finely serrate, tapering to short petiole, glossy and glabrous on upper surface, not aromatic; lower surface dull with fine gland dots and obvious midrib. Infls terminal and in axils of upper lvs, rounded, paniculate. Calyx with minute simple hairs and sometimes few glandular hairs; lobes c. 2 mm long, triangular, minutely glandular on margins. Corolla white, 12–18 mm diam.; petals spreading and scarcely tubular. Ovary disc convex; style c. 4–6 mm long. Capsule obconic, c. 3–4 mm long.

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

Flowering: Jan.–Jun.