Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Malpighiales Martius
Family
Violaceae
Genus
Melicytus J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Melicytus obovatus (Kirk) Garn.-Jones in Connor & Edgar, New Zealand J. Bot. 25: 128 (1987)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Hymenanthera obovata Kirk, Trans. New Zealand Inst. 27: 350 (1894 [1895])
Lectotype. New Zealand, South Island, Nelson: limestone rocks between Takaka and Riwaka, T. Kirk s.n., Mar 1885, WELT SP029564! (fide Allan 1961, p. 196).
 Description

Erect to spreading dioec. shrub up to 3 m. tall, us. less; branchlets pubescent when young. Lvs of juvenile plants membr., obovate, toothed or lobed; lvs of adults coriac., on petioles 2–3 mm. long; lamina obovate to elliptic to obovate-oblong, obtuse or retuse, (1)–1·5–4 cm. × 7–15 mm.; margins thickened and slightly revolute, entire to slightly sinuate, rarely with 1 to 3 blunt teeth. Fls solitary or in fascicles, 3–4 mm. diam., on straight to decurved pedicels ± 4 mm. long; bracts below middle. ♂ with ovate sepals, free almost to base; petals pale yellow, revolute at tips; scales narrow-cuneate; membrane with lanceolate, fimbriate processes. ♀ smaller, petals broader. Fr. 3–5 mm. diam., subglobose to ovoid; style 2-fid; seeds (1)–2, plano-convex.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1 as Hymenanthera obovata Kirk]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
Cameron, E.K. et al. 1995: New Zealand Botanical Society threatened and local plant lists (1995 revision). New Zealand Botanical Society Newsletter 39: 15–28. [as Melicytus "Burnett"; Melicytus (Mt. Burnett)]
Connor, H.E.; Edgar, E. 1987: Name changes in the indigenous New Zealand flora, 1960–1986 and Nomina Nova IV, 1983–1986. New Zealand Journal of Botany 25: 115–170.
de Lange, P.J.; Heenan, P.B.; Given, D.R.; Norton, D.A.; Ogle, C.C.; Johnson, P.N.; Cameron, E.K. 1999: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 37: 603–628.
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. [Relic; Taxonomically indistinct]
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]
Heenan, P.B. 2017: A taxonomic revision of Cardamine L. (Brassicaceae) in New Zealand. Phytotaxa 330(1): 001–154.
Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; de Lange, P.J.; Molloy, B.P.J. 2018: Three new Melicytus species from central New Zealand and a revised circumscription of Melicytus obovatus (Violaceae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 56: 51–83. (Published online: Published online: 14 Nov 2017)
Kirk, T. 1895 ("1894"): Descriptions of New or Remarkable Plants from the Upper Waimakariri. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 27: 349–353.
Kirk,T. 1899: The Students' Flora of New Zealand and the Outlying Islands. Government Printer, Wellington, N.Z. [as Hymenanthera obovata Kirk]