Species

Melicytus micranthus

Etymology

Melicytus: From the Greek meli (honey) and kytos (hollow container), referring to the staminal nectaries of the flowers. Literally "honey-cave"
micranthus: small flower

Common Name(s)

Swamp mahoe

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

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 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Melicytus micranthus (Hook.f.) Hook.f.

Family

Violaceae

Brief Description

Zig-zagging shrub with interlacing branches bearing small wavy-edged green leaves with a pale blotch at the base and that have the vein network more visible on the underside. Twigs fuzzy. Leaves 1.5-2.3cm long, in various shapes, widest at middle, scattered along stem. Flowers small, white. Fruit dark purple.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

MELMIC

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

Elaeodendron micranthum Hook.f., Melicytus micranthus Hook.f., Melicytus micranthus Hook.f. var. micranthus, Melicytus microphyllus Colenso, Melicytus micranthus var. microphyllus (Colenso) Cheeseman

Flower Colours

Violet / Purple,Yellow

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 96

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Taxanomic notes

Melicytus micranthus var. longiusculus Cheeseman is based on the hybrid combination M. micranthus x M. ramiflorus and is thus not a synonym of M. micranthus.

This page last updated on 6 Dec 2014