The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Muellerina celastroides

Common Name(s)

Muellerina

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Non Resident Native - Vagrant

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

2009 - Non Resident Native - Vagrant
2004 - Non Resident Native - Vagrant

Qualifiers

2012 - SO
2009 - SO

Authority

Muellerina celastroides (Schult.f. et J.H.Schult.bis) Tiegh.

Family

Loranthaceae

Brief Description

Green shrub growing on other plants known from one locality in pohutukawa forest in the Bay of Islands. No plants currently known in New Zealand. Leaves in pairs, rounded oval, 25-70mm long. Flowers tubular, drooping, pale green on outside, dark red on inside. Fruit 7-11mm long, pear-shaped.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Muellerina raouli Tiegh., Phrygilanthus raoulii (Tiegh.) Engl.

Distribution

Indigenous. Reported in New Zealand once from the Bay of Islands. Present also in eastern Australia (Queensland and New South Wales) where it is abundant

Habitat

In New Zealand collected once from coastal Pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa Sol. ex Gaertn.) dominated forest. In Austraia more widespread but usually coastal on trees growing along waterways or in coastal forest.

Features

Hemiparasite of outer host branches and rarely main trunk. Haustoris external, epicortical runners present. Growth habit erect or spreading, all parts glabrous except the minutely brown puberulent inflorescence axis. Leaves opposite, 25-70 x 15-25 mm, bright green, yellow-green to dark green, elliptic to oblong, round or obtuse, base attentuate with obscure3-8 mm long petiole; midrib indistinct, venation indistinct, pinnate. Inflorescence a terminal raceme of 1-3 pairs of triads, triad with central flower sessile and laterals pedicellate; axis 5-20 mm long; triad peduncles 5-7 mm long, pedicels of lateral flowers 3-6 mm long, bracts narrowly triangular, 1.5-2 mm long. Calyx 0.7-1 mm entire. Corolla 5-merous, curved in bud with mature buds 22-35 mm long, yellow-green to pale yellow at anthesis often fading to red or reddish-purple, petals free, distinctly decurved to pendulous. Stamens unequal; anthers 1.5 mm long, dorsifixed, versatile, yellow, free portion of filament 8-13 mm long, often dark red or pink. Fruit 7-11 mm, green grading to light red at ends, pear-shaped.

Similar Taxa

None in New Zealand. The distinctive decurved, greenish-yellow flowers which fade to red or reddish-purple after anthesis, set in triads with the central flower sessile and the laterals pedicellate, and the distinctive pear-shaped fruits readily distinguish this species from the other loranthaceous taxa found in New Zealand.

Flowering

September - January

Flower Colours

Green,Yellow

Fruiting

December - June

Propagation Technique

Unknown.

Threats

Unknown.This species was collected once parasitic on pohutukawa and not seen again. In Australia the usual host of Banksia integrifolia L.f.. Possibly it became extinct in New Zealand due to the suboptimal host range available. Possums were not responsible as they had yet to be liberated in the country.

Chromosome No.

2n = 22

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 1 Jan 2014