Idesia polycarpa Maxim.

Widespreading open tree to c. 10 m (sometimes taller in cultivation). Trunk with somewhat smooth greyish bark. Shoots dark red at first, glabrous. Petioles 5–18 cm long, red or orange-red, usually with 2 cupular, sessile glands near apex and 1–3 sessile glands towards base. Lamina 10–24 × 7–16 cm, glaucous below, glabrous except for tufts of hairs near base of 5 main veins, remotely serrate; base usually cordate, sometimes rounded; apex acuminate. Infl. yellowish tomentulose; fls appearing after lvs. Sepals of ? fls 8–10 mm long, of ? fls 5–7 mm long, ± elliptic, yellow-tomentulose on both sides. Stamens = sepals; filaments densely covered in white hairs in lower 1/2. Ovary glabrous; styles 2–3 mm long, widely divergent. Berries 7–10 mm diam., globose, orange-red or scarlet, long-persistent and eventually turning black. Seed 1.7–2 mm long, ellipsoid to obovoid; testa finely granular.

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

Flowering: Nov.–Dec.