Species

Melicytus obovatus

Etymology

Melicytus: From the Greek meli (honey) and kytos (hollow container), referring to the staminal nectaries of the flowers. Literally "honey-cave"
obovatus: From the Latin prefix ob- ('reverse') and the adjective ovatus 'egg-shaped'. Thus obovatus means 'reverse egg-shaped, i.e. the broadest part above the middle'.

Current Conservation Status

2018 - At Risk - Relict

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 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2009 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Range Restricted

Qualifiers

2012 - RR, Sp

Authority

Melicytus obovatus (Kirk) Garn.-Jones

Family

Violaceae

Brief Description

A shrub with leaves that vary depending on location and age of plant inhabiting the Cook Strait and Takaka regions. Twigs speckled. Leaves to 5cm long, network of veins more visible on the paler underside, edges either smooth or wavy. Flowers small, bell-shaped, hanging. Fruit white blotched with purple.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

MELOBO

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Hymenanthera obovata Kirk

Flower Colours

White

Chromosome No.

2n = 32

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

 

 

This page last updated on 6 Dec 2014