Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Ericales Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Gaultheria Kalm ex L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Gaultheria oppositifolia Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. II. (Fl. Nov.-Zel.) Part I, 162, t.43 (1853)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Brossaea oppositifolia (Hook.f.) Kuntze (1891)
  • = Gaultheria multibracteolata Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 24: 389 (1891 [1892])
Vernacular Name(s):
Kama; Niniwa; Snowberry; Waiūatua
 Description

Much-branched, erect to spreading shrub, up to c. 2 m tall; branchlets glabrous to sparingly setose. Lvs opposite or subopposite, sessile or subsessile, sometimes ± amplexicaul. Lamina usually 2.5–6 × 1.5–3 cm, lanceolate-ovate, elliptic-ovate, broadly ovate, or suborbicular, thick, coriaceous, glabrous, crenate-serrate or serrulate; base cordate to subtruncate; apex subacute, mucronulate. Fls in terminal and subterminal oppositely branched racemes 5–10 cm long, forming broad panicles; pedicels to c. 5 mm long, glabrous; bracteoles ovate, c. 2.5 mm long. Calyx lobes ovate-triangular to ovate-oblong, sharply acute or acuminate, c. 1.5 mm long. Corolla urceolate; tube 2–3 mm long; lobes triangular-ovate. Capsule c. 3–4 mm diam., surrounded by dry calyx.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Sep.–Feb.

 Bibliography
Colenso, W. 1892: A description of some newly-discovered indigenous plants, being a further contribution towards the making known the botany of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 24: 387–394.
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. 1852–1853 ("1853"): 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 I. Flowering plants. Lovell Reeve, London.