Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Caryophyllales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Aizoaceae
Genus
Tetragonia L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Tetragonia tetragonoides (Pall.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2, 264 (1891) – as tetragonioides
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Demidovia tetragonoides Pall. (1781)
  • = Tetragonia expansa Murray (1783) nom. illeg.
  • = Tetragonia halimifolia G.Forst., Pl. Esc. 67 (1786)
  • = Tetragonia cornuta Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2, 483 (1791)
  • = Tetragonia inermis F.Muell. (1853)
Vernacular Name(s):
Kōkihi; new zealand spinach; Rengamutu; Rengarenga; Tūtae-ikamoana
 Description

Herb with decumbent branching stems, softly woody towards base, up to 6 dm. long. Lvs on petioles up to 2 cm. long; lamina ovate-rhomboid to triangular, obtuse to subacute, entire to slightly sinuate or shallowly lobed, ± densely papillose. Fls solitary or occ. paired, occ. unisexual, sessile or nearly so, ± 7 mm. diam.; per. yellowish. Calyx tube broad- turbinate, lobes broad-triangular, obtuse. Stamens 10–20. Ovary 3–8-celled, styles 3–8. Fr. 8–10 mm. long, subturbinate, angled; seeds 4–10; horns 2–4, indurate.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Oct.–Feb.; Fruiting: Nov.–Mar.

 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Naturally uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
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. [Naturally Uncommon]
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. [Naturally Uncommon]
Forster, J.G.A. 1786: De Plantis Esculentis Insularum Oceani Australis commentatio botanica. Haude & Spener, Berlin.
Gaertner, J. 1790–1792: De Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum. Vol. 2. Stuttgart.
Kuntze, C.E.O. 1891: Revisio Generum Plantarum. Vol. 2. Arthur Felix, Leipzig.