Where found:

• Lower montane forest and subalpine scrub on Mt Taranaki/Egmont
  
• Up to 1200 metres
  

• Much branched shrub or tree
  
• Juvenile leaves have three leaflets (trifoliate) (leaflets 40-150 mm long), adult leaves (50-100 mm long) vary in shape, are mainly unifoliate but sometimes trifoliate, leathery and glossy with a raised midvein and serrations on the margins, the underside of the leaf is pale and dull
  
• Small greenish flowers, petals fold back as soon as the buds open
  
• Small (3-4 mm) compressed fruit
  
• Blistery, reddish bark