Tamarix chinensis Lour.

Large shrub or tree to c. 10 m high, glabrous; branches tending to droop. Lvs 0.75–2.5–(4) mm long, lanceolate with broad sheathing base, almost subulate on strong vegetative shoots, entire, not markedly imbricate. Infl. a large, broad, terminal panicle composed of numerous spike-like racemes 2–5 cm long, appearing well after the lvs and on the current season's growth. Bracts 1–1.5–(2) mm long, narrow-lanceolate and acuminate to linear-subulate, pinkish, mostly > pedicels; fls 5-merous. Sepals 0.5–0.8–(1.2) mm long, ovate, green with hyaline, almost entire margin. Petals 1.3–2.2 mm long, broad-elliptic, pink; apex rounded or emarginate. Stamens 5, > petals; anthers pink. Disc of 5 rounded dark red lobes. Style red, stout, < or = petals; stigma stout. Capsule c. 8 mm long, narrowly pyramidal. Seed c. 0.5 mm long, cylindric; hairs united to form column in lower part, the free upper parts reflexed.

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

Flowering: Dec.–Apr.