New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts
Myrsine aquilonia and M. umbricola (Myrsinaceae),
two new species from New Zealand
P. B. Heenan
Allan Herbarium
Landcare Research
P.O. Box 69
Lincoln 8152, New Zealand
P. J. de Lange
Science & Research Unit
Department of Conservation
P.O. Box 68908
Newton
Auckland, New Zealand
Abstract Myrsine aquilonia and
M.
umbricola are described as new species from New Zealand.
M.
aquilonia occurs on the Poor Knights Islands and at several places
on the adjacent Northland Peninsula. It is distinguished from the other
New Zealand species of
Myrsine by an upright growth habit and
being up to 12 m tall, spreading branches and branchlets,
large-diameter trunk, often producing suckers from exposed roots near
the trunk, and large obovate green leaves with a prominent apical
notch.
M. aquilonia is considered to have a conservation status
of “At Risk (Sparse)” using the New Zealand Threat Classification
System, for while abundant on the Poor Knights Islands it is known from
only a few plants at the other Northland locations of Tutukaka, Te
Arai, and Unahi.
Myrsine
umbricola is known only from silver beech forest in the Tararua
Range, lower North Island, where it is sympatric with
M. divaricata. This species forms a
small, bushy shrub up to 4 m tall with slender trunks, and has
spreading branches and branchlets and shiny, obovate, dark green
leaves.
M. umbricola is
assessed as having a conservation status of “Acutely Threatened
(Nationally Endangered)” as it is known from few subpopulations, is
restricted to a small geographic area, and appears to have recruitment
failure.
Myrsine divaricata
A.Cunn. and
M. ×
montana Hook.f. are lectotypified
and this hybrid is attributed to
M.
divaricata ×
M. salicina.
Keywords Myrsinaceae; Myrsine; M.
aquilonia; M. coxii; M. divaricata; M. umbricola;
conservation; New Zealand flora
B03050; Received 20 November 2003; accepted 4 June 2004; Online
publication date 9 December 2004
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2004, Vol. 42: 753–769
0028–825X/04/4205–0753 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2004
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