Ecballium elaterium (L.) A.Rich.

Annual or short-lived perennial herb with stout rootstock. Stems running, ± succulent, hispid and with dense short soft hairs. Petiole to c. 7 cm long. Lamina to 10 × 8 cm (to 18 × 18 cm in cultivation), ± triangular with a pair of basal lobes and a pair of short lateral lobes, with scattered scabrid hairs above, densely hairy and hispid below especially on the prominent nerve reticulum; margins strongly sinuate and undulate; base deeply cordate; apex obtuse. Racemes few-flowered; pedicels short, densely hairy. Calyx c. 10 mm long, densely hairy. Petals 10–17–(20) × 6–7 mm, pale yellow, elliptic-oblong, densely hairy outside, apiculate. Filaments c. 3 mm long; anthers irregularly lobed; pollen orange. ♀ fls often in same axil as ♂ fls but somewhat smaller. Fr. ± pendent on a recurved pedicel, 3–5 cm long; pulp almost transparent. Seed c. 5 mm long, dark brown.

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

Flowering: Dec.–Feb.