Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Malpighiales Martius
Family
Violaceae
Genus
Melicytus J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
 Subordinate Taxa
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Melicytus novae-zelandiae (A.Cunn.) P.S.Green, J. Arnold Arbor. 51: 219 (1970)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Scaevola novae-zelandiae A.Cunn., Ann. Nat. Hist. 2: 52 (1839)
  • ≡ Hymenanthera novae-zelandiae (A.Cunn.) Hemsl., Kew Bull. 95 (1908)
  • = Hymenanthera latifolia var. tasmanica Kirk, Trans. New Zealand Inst. 3: 163 (1871)
  • = Hymenanthera latifolia Kirk, Stud. Fl. New Zealand 45 (1899)
 Description

Stout dioec. shrub up to 3 m. tall. Lvs on petioles up to 5 mm. long, subcoriac., broadly obovate-oblong to broad-elliptic, obtuse, (3)–6 × 2–3·5 cm.; margins slightly thickened, ± recurved, sinuate to crenulate, rarely bluntly serrate, rarely subentire. Fls 3–4 mm. diam., fascicled; ♂ often clustered on branches below lvs; pedicels decurved, bracts ± at middle. Sepals ovate, free to near base; petals twice length of sepals, narrow-oblong, revolute at tips; anther membrane produced into 5 triangular, jagged teeth. ♀ smaller, ovary ovoid, style 2-fid. Berry subglobose, (4)–5–(6)mm. diam., purplish. Seeds us. 2, plano-convex; strophiole us. conspicuous.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1 as Hymenanthera novae-zelandiae (A.Cunn.) Hemsl.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
Number of subspecific taxa in New Zealand within Melicytus novae-zelandiae (A.Cunn.) P.S.Green
CategoryNumber
Indigenous (Endemic)1
Total1
 Bibliography
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.
Cunningham, A. 1839: Florae insularum Novae Zelandiae precursor; or a specimen of the botany of the islands of New Zealand. Annals of Natural History 2: 125–132.
Green, P.S. 1970: Notes Relating to the Floras of Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands, I. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 51: 204–220.
Hemsley, W. B. 1908: Kew Bulletin
Kirk, T. 1871: Notes on Certain New Zealand Plants not included in the "Handbook of the New Zealand Flora". Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 3: 163–166.
Kirk,T. 1899: The Students' Flora of New Zealand and the Outlying Islands. Government Printer, Wellington, N.Z.