- Taxon
- Gallery
Classification
Class
Order
Family
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Myoporum laetum G.Forst., Fl. Ins. Austr. 44 (1786)
Synonymy:
- = Myoporum laetum var. decumbens G.Simpson, Trans. Roy. Soc. New Zealand 79: 429 (1952)
Vernacular Name(s):
Ngaio
Description
Tree to c. 12 m high with rough furrowed bark, much less commonly a shrub, generally of open habit with foliage towards end of branches. Lf buds black or greenish black, rarely green, viscid, drying black. Petiole c. 1–1.5 cm long, scarcely distinct from attenuate base of lamina. Lamina 4–14 × 1–5–(6) cm, narrow- to broad-elliptic or obovate, often thick and almost fleshy, nearly always prominently dotted with pellucid glands, usually serrate to serrulate in upper 1/2, sometimes entire; apex mucronate, acute or short-acuminate. Juvenile lvs completely serrate. Fls (1)–2–6; pedicels c. 10 mm long at anthesis. Calyx 2–3 mm long, divided almost to base; lobes lanceolate to ovate, acute to acuminate. Corolla 10–15 mm diam.; lobes > tube, white with purple dots and white-bearded inside. Style sparsely hairy. Drupe 5–10 mm long, narrow- to broad-ovoid or oblong, mauve to purple or reddish purple, occasionally white.
[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]
Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
Phenology
Flowering: Jul.–Apr.
Bibliography
Chinnock, R.J. 2007: Eremophila and allied genera, a momograph of the plant family Myoporaceae. Rosenberg Publishing Pty Ltd.
Connor, H.E. 1977: The Poisonous Plants in New Zealand. Edition 2. Government Printer, Wellington.
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. [Not Threatened]
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]
Forster, J.G.A. 1786: Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus. Dietrich, Göttingen.
Simpson, G. 1952: Notes on some New Zealand plants and descriptions of new species (No. 5). Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 79: 419–435.
Stewart, J. 1971: Plants in New Zealand Poisonous to Man. New Zealand Department of Health, Wellington.
