Shrub or sometimes tree to 2 m or more tall, mostly covered in dense, soft, whitish, branched hairs. Leaves alternate, soft, 10-20 cm long, 10-15 cm wide, broadly ovate, shortly pointed at the tip, cordate at the base, doubly serrated with 5-7 lobes; stipules present. Flowers in flat clusters. Sepals 4-5, free, long-pointed. Petals 4-5, free, crumpled. Stamens numerous, free or united shortly at the base; spring. Fruit capsule with long bristles, splitting lengthwise, the ovary with 5-7 chambers; seeds numerous.
New Zealand
Grows naturally in coastal areas at the bottom of cliffs and in gullies, also lowland forest.
Relatively rare in cultivation in Australia.
Cuttings.
The wood is extremely soft, half the weight of cork and used by Maoris as fishing net floats.
Long-bristled capsule.
Source: (1997). Tiliaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.