Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Caryophyllales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Polygonaceae
Genus
Muehlenbeckia Meisn.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Muehlenbeckia axillaris (Hook.f.) Endl., Gen. Pl. [Endlicher] Suppl. 4(2): 51 (1848)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Polygonum axilaris Hook.f. (1847)
  • ≡ Muehlenbeckia axillaris (Hook.f.) Walp., Ann. Bot. Syst. (Walpers) Vol. 1: 552 (1848) nom. inval.
  • = Muehlenbeckia hypogaea Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 21: 98 (1888 [1889])
 Description

Prostrate or occ. straggling shrub forming dense to open patches up to 1 m. or more across; stems and branches subterranean or creeping on surface, rooting at nodes where substratum favourable; branchlets slender, decumbent, ± pubescent. Lvs on slender petioles (1)–2–3–(5) mm. long; ochreae 2–3 mm. long, obliquely truncate. Lamina (2)–3–5–(10) mm. long or in diam., coriac., broad- to ovate-oblong to suborbicular, sts retuse; dark green above, paler below. Fls ± 4 mm. diam., solitary or paired (rarely up to 5 in a fascicle), axillary on slender pedicels. Tepals united to halfway, lobes narrow-triangular. ♀ with fimbriate stigmas; tepals white and succulent or dry in fr. (both forms may occur on same plant.) Fr. ± 3 × 1·75 mm., trigonous, somewhat glossy, black.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1 as Muehlenbeckia axillaris (Hook.f.) Walp.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Bibliography
Colenso, W. 1889: A description of some newly-discovered Phænogamic plants; being a further contribution towards the making known the botany of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 21: 80–108.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Endlicher, S.F.L. 1836-1841: Genera Plantarum secundum ordines naturales disposita.
Walpers, W.G. 1848-68: Annales botanices systematicae. Auctore Guilielmo Gerardo Walpers.