Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Gaultheria
Species: G. crassa
Scientific name: Gaultheria crassa
Synonyms: Gaultheria rupestris var. parvifolia, Gaultheria rupestris var. humilis
Gaultheria crassa is a stout bushy shrub growing up to 1 m tall. It is dwarfed at higher altitudes. It inhabits mountains (700-1700 masl) from the Ruahine south.
It has alternate shiny veined green leaves which are 10-15mm long by 5-7mm wide and are narrow- to broad- elliptic or suborbicular in shape. They are thick, leathery and rigid with toothed margins. The branchlets have sparse setose hairs.
Gaultheria crassa is very floriferous having many small white bell-shaped flowers in 4cm long clusters at the tip of twigs during October to December. The white flowers develop into dried brown capsules in autumn.
Photographed at Otari Wilton Bush Reserve, Wellington.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
