Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Ericales Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Gaultheria Kalm ex L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Gaultheria crassa Allan, Fl. New Zealand 1, 508 (1961)
Synonymy:
  • = Gaultheria rupestris var. parvifolia Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. II (Fl. Nov.-Zel.) Part II, 161, t.42B (1854)
  • = Gaultheria rupestris var. humilis G.Simpson, Trans. Roy. Soc. New Zealand 79: 423 (1952)
 Description

Stout, much-branched shrub, to c. 1 m tall, dwarfed at higher altitudes; branchlets with sparse setose hairs. Lvs alternate; petioles very short, stout. Lamina 7–15–(25) × 5–7–(10) mm, narrow- to broad- elliptic or suborbicular, very thick and coriaceous, usually shallowly concave above; margins finely crenulate-serrulate; base ± rounded; apex rounded to acute or apiculate. Racemes to ± 4 cm long, with hairy axes, terminal and subterminal, simple or sometimes forming panicles; pedicels to c. 5 mm long, glabrous or puberulent; bracteoles oblong to triangular-ovate, subacute, c. 2 mm long. Calyx lobes triangular-ovate, 2.5–3 mm long, acute or short-acuminate. Corolla urceolate; tube c. 3.5 mm long; lobes triangular, obtuse. Capsule c. 2 mm diam., loosely invested by persistent dry calyx.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Oct.–Dec.

 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]
Franklin, D.A. 1962: The Ericaceae in New Zealand (Gaultheria and Pernettya). Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Botany 1: 155–173.
Hooker, J.D. 1854–1855: The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage of H.M. Discovery Ships Erebus and Terror, in the years 1839–1843, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross. II. Flora Novae-Zelandiae. Part II. Flowerless plants. Lovell Reeve, London.
Simpson, G. 1952: Notes on some New Zealand plants and descriptions of new species (No. 5). Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 79: 419–435.