Species
Melicytus venosus
Etymology
Melicytus: From the Greek meli (honey) and kytos (hollow container), referring to the staminal nectaries of the flowers. Literally "honey-cave"
Authority
Melicytus venosus Courtney, Heenan, Molloy et de Lange
Family
Violaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Native
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs
Synonyms
None - first described in 2017
Similar Taxa
Distinguished from Melicytus orarius and M. novae-zelandiae subsp. novae-zelandiae by its taller stature (up to 6 m tall); upright, diffuse branches (with the main stems having collars of protruding corky lenticels); by the broadly elliptic, broadly elliptic-oblong or ovate-orbicular leaves that are membranous to semi-coriaceous, and with the distal margins crenate or weakly serrate (usually with 1–6 teeth), and by the cuneate to slightly obtuse bases. Melicytus venosus also differs from M. orarius by having glabrous stems, visible leaf veinlets and petals that are without a prominent purple margin.
Flowering
August - October
Fruiting
February - August
Chromosome No.
2n = 32
Endemic Taxon
Yes
Endemic Genus
No
Endemic Family
No
This page last updated on 16 Jan 2018