Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Myrtales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Myrtaceae
Genus
Syzygium P.Browne ex Gaertn.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Syzygium maire (A.Cunn.) Sykes & Garn.-Jones, J. Arnold Arbor. 60: 400 (1979)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Eugenia maire A.Cunn., Ann. Nat. Hist. 3: 114 (1839)
Etymology:
The epithet maire is derived from the common names for the plant, swamp maire and the Maori maire tawake.
Vernacular Name(s):
Maire tawake; Maire tawhake; Puka; Swamp maire; Tuhuhi; Whāwhākou
 Description

Tree to c. 12 m high, sometimes with pneumatophores; bark smooth, whitish or grey. Branchlets spreading, 4-angled. Petioles 5–10 mm long, slender. Lamina (1.5)–2.5–6 × 1–2.5 cm, usually elliptic, sometimes broadly elliptic, sinuate or undulate, shining. Cymes usually of 5–30 fls, to c. 8 cm diam. Pseudopedicels slender. Hypanthium 2–3 mm long at anthesis, obconic; calyx lobes very short and broad, persistent on fr. Petals 2–3 mm diam., orbicular, white, forming calyptrum in bud, caducous. Stamens 5–12–(15) mm long, white. Style < longest stamens. Ovary adnate to base of hypanthium. Fr. 10–15 mm diam., subglobose, broad-ellipsoid or elliptic-ovoid, deep crimson, glossy. Seed 1, large.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Nov.–Jun.

 Bibliography
Cunningham, A. 1839: Florae insularum Novae Zelandiae precursor; or a specimen of the botany of the islands of New Zealand. Annals of Natural History 3: 111–115.
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. [Nationally Critical]
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. [Not Threatened]
Sykes, W.R.; Garnock-Jones, P. J. 1979: A new combination in Syzygium for Eugenia maire (Myrtaceae) of New Zealand. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 60: 396–401.