The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Mida salicifolia

Etymology

Mida: From maire, the Maori name for this species
salicifolia: willow-leaved

Common Name(s)

Maire

Current Conservation Status

2018 - At Risk - Declining

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened
2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Gradual Decline

Qualifiers

2009 - RF

Authority

Mida salicifolia A.Cunn.

Family

Nanodeaceae

Brief Description

Small tree bearing a variety of shapes of dark green glossy leaves (that are sometimes in pairs) paler underneath with small dots inhabiting the North Island. Leaves narrow and thin or rounded, to 12cm long. Flowers small. Fruit red, in small clsuters at base of leaves.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

MIDSAL

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Mida cunninghamii Chatin, M. myrtifolia A. Cunn., M. salicifolia var. myrtifolia (A.Cunn.) Allan, M. eucalyptoides A.Cunn. Fusanus cunninghamii Benth. et Hook.f. ex Kirk,

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand: North Island from North Cape to Wellington but scarce south of the Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

Habitat

Coastal to lowland forest. Often in association with kauri (Agathis australis) but also common in other mixed Podocarp forests. A generalist root parasite.

Features

Small hemiparasitic, glabrescent to glabrous tree up to 6 m tall, bark smooth, grey to grey-black, branchlets slender, brittle. Petioles slender, short, somewhat fleshy. Leaves mostly alternate, sometimes with a few subopposite to opposite, (50-)100(-120) x (10-) 20-30(-40) mm, upper surface dark green to yellow green, very glossy, undersides paler and mat, lamina variable in shape ranging from linear, narrow-lanceolate, ovate to oblong-ovate, broad-elliptic to rhomboid, with all types occasionally present on the same individual, acute, subacuminate to acuminate, somewhat papery, membranous or semi-coriaceous, margins entire, sinuate or distinctly "scalloped". Inflorescence and axillary, few-flowered raceme. Flowers gynodioecious. Pedicels c. 5 mm. Flowers greenish, pink or red. Tepals (4-)5(-6), broadly triangular, caducous, stamens (4-)5(-6), subtended by small hair tufts, disc (4-)5(-6) lobed, stigma 2-4-lobed. Fruit 7-12 x 6-8 mm, narrow-turbinate, bright red, receptacle rim persistent. Description adapted from Allan (1961).

Similar Taxa

Most commonly confused in the vegetative state with species of maire (Nestegis) from which it can be distinguished because Nestegis spp. have leaves that are always opposite, not distichous and have finely spotted leaf surfaces (caused by glandular leaf hairs). In Nestegis spp. there are always short hairs on the young growth and the vegetative buds (which are usually two) are pointed and distinctly maroon-coloured.

Flowering

September - November

Flower Colours

Green,Red / Pink

Fruiting

October - February

Propagation Technique

Difficult and should not be removed from the wild.

Threats

Threatened by possum, goat and deer browse, and in some places almost extinct from the actions of these animals. However it is also extremely common over large parts of its range, and though perhaps most abundant on possum-free islands.

Chromosome No.

2n = 66

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

Yes

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 19 Dec 2014