Raukaua laetevirens (Gay) Frodin

Species Identity and Growth Form

Raukaua laetevirens (Gay) Frodin is an evergreen tree or shrub with ash-coloured bark that reaches up to 6 m (20 ft) in height.

Leaf Petiole Characteristics

Its leaves are alternate and composite, with 2–8 cm long petioles that are thickened at the base.

Leaflet General Morphology

The leaves are digitate, with uneven leaflets that are light green, glossy, leathery, and oblong-lanceolate, and attenuate at both ends.

Leaflet Size and Margins

Leaflets have toothed edges, and measure 3-8 cm in length and 1-1.6 cm in width.

Inflorescence Structure

The flowers are hermaphrodite, pedicellate, and clustered in groups of 2-5 within inflorescences made up of many racemes.

Floral Tube Dimensions

Each flower has a 1.5 mm long floral tube.

Calyx and Tepal Characteristics

The calyx is split, and the flower has 5 tepals and 5 thick whitish-green ovate-lanceolate sepals, with a 2 mm mucro at the acute apex.

Stamens and Ovary Structure

It has 5 stamens with whitish anthers, a 3-5 loculate inferior ovary, and 4-5 styles.

Fruit Characteristics

The fruit is a brown spherical drupe 5-5.5 mm in diameter, crowned by two styles.