Leycesteria formosa Wall.

Shrub to 2–(3) m high; stems hollow, glabrous, green, glaucous at first. Petiole 0.5–2–(5) cm long, purplish, with hairy groove on upper side. Lamina 4–14–(24) × 1.5–8–(12) cm, ovate or broad-ovate, mostly entire, sometimes 5–9-lobed (rarely divided almost to midrib) with rounded sinuses, becoming glabrous except for midrib and bases of main veins; base rounded to cordate; apex long-acuminate. Infl. 3–8 cm long at flowering. Bracts mostly 1–3 cm long, sessile, broad-ovate, aristate-acuminate, ± glandular-hairy, usually deep reddish purple. Calyx small, hidden by bracts; lobes very unequal. Corolla c. 1.5 cm long, funnelform, white; lobes rounded at apex, much < tube, with glandular-hairy margins. Stamens shortly exserted. Style > stamens. Berry 7–10 mm diam., subglobose, dark brownish purple, glandular-hairy. Seed 1.1–1.5 mm long, obovoid-ellipsoid, shining brown, minutely white-dotted.

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

Flowering: Dec.–May.