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  4. Elaeocarpus dentatus var. dentatus

Elaeocarpus dentatus var. dentatus

Reikorangi Valley, Waikanae.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 12/03/1986, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>.
An image of hinau flowers.<br>Photographer: Department of Conservation, Licence: Public domain.
Catchpool, Remutaka Forest Park.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 16/05/2002, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>.
Coromandel, May.<br>Photographer: John Smith-Dodsworth, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Trunk. Kaitoke Regional Park.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 01/09/2007, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>.
Elaeocarpus dentatus.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Flowers of Elaeocarpus dentatus.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Flowers of Elaeocarpus dentatus.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Fruit of Elaeocarpus dentatus.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Leaves of Elaeocarpus dentatus.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Leaves of Elaeocarpus dentatus.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Elaeocarpus dentatus.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Elaeocarpus dentatus in flower.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Trunk of Elaeocarpus dentatus.<br>Photographer: Wayne Bennett, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Eastern Remutaka Range.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 09/10/2011, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>.
Abaxial surface of leaf. Boulder Hill, western Hutt hills.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 02/03/2013, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>.
Kaitoke Regional Park.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 20/12/2016, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>.
Kaitoke Regional Park.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 20/12/2016, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>.
Kaitoke Regional Park.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 20/12/2016, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>.
Kaitoke Regional Park.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 20/12/2016, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>.
Kaitoke Regional Park.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 20/12/2016, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>.
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Common name

hīnau

Synonyms

Dicera dentata J.R.Forst. et G.Forst., Elaeocarpus hinau A.Cunn., Elaeocarpus cunninghamii Raoul

Family

Elaeocarpaceae

Authority

Elaeocarpus dentatus (J.R.Forst. et G.Forst.) Vahl var. dentatus

Flora category

Vascular – Native

Endemic taxon

Yes

Endemic genus

No

Endemic family

No

Structural class

Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons

NVS code

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.

ELADEN

Chromosome number

2n = 30

Current conservation status

  • Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017

The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley.

2012 | Not Threatened

Previous conservation statuses

2009 | Not Threatened

2004 | Not Threatened

Brief description

Canopy tree bearing harsh thin leaves that have obvious pits on the underside and with small teeth along margins. Twigs with small hairs. Adult leaves 10-12cm long by 2-3cm wide, with a sharp tip, Juvenile leaves narrower. Flowers white, lacy, in conspicuous sprays. Fruit purple, oval, 12-15mm long.

Distribution

Endemic. North, and South Island as far South Westland in the west and Christchurch in the east.

Habitat

Common tree of mainly coastal and lowland forest though occasionally extending into montane forest.

Features

Tree up to 20 m tall (usually less), with broad spreading crown. Trunk 1 m diam., bark grey. Branches erect then spreading, branchlets silky hairy when young. Petioles stout, 20-25 mm long. Leaves leathery, (50-)100-120 x 20-30 mm, narrow- to obovate-oblong, broad-obovate, oblanceolate, apex obtuse or abruptly acuminate, dark green and glabrescent above, off-white, silky-hairy below; margins somewhat sinuate, recurved, serrate to subentire. Inflorescence a raceme 100-180 mm long, 8-12(-20)-flowered. Pedicels 10 mm long, silky-hairy. Flowers drooping, (8-)12(-15) mm diam., sepals lanceolate-oblong, 6 mm long, petals white, obovate-cuneate, 3-5-lobed, c. 10 mm long. Stamens 10-20. Fruit a fleshy, ovoid purple-black 12-18 x 9 mm, drupe. Endocarp deeply furrowed and wrinkled.

Similar taxa

A distinctive tree easily recognised by the erecto-patent leathery bicoloured leaves, white “lily of the valley” like flowers, and small ovoid purple-black drupes. Distinguished from the closely allied pokaka by the lack of a filiramulate, divaricating juvenile and sub adult growth form, and larger leaves, flowers and fruits. The status of Elaeocarpus dentatus var. obovatus Cheeseman accepted by the New Zealand Flora, but not by Druce (1993) needs further investigation. In its typical form this variety seems very distinctive, and pending further study it is retained here, especially as no one has undertaken a modern revision of New Zealand Elaeocarpus.

Flowering

October - February

Flower colours

White

Fruiting

December - May(-June)

Life cycle

Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285-309

Propagation technique

Easy from fresh fruit - though can be slow to germinate. Moderately easy in most soils, light and moisture regimes. However, does best in a deep, moist, well mulched soil.

Etymology

elaeocarpus: Olive-seed

dentatus: Toothed

Where To Buy

A beautiful tree which should be more widely grown. Makes an excellent specimen tree and should be more widely used in street plantings. Occasionally available from commercial and specialist native plant nurseries.

Attribution

Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (4 April 2007). Description adapted from Allan (1961).

References and further reading

Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I. Wellington, Government Printer.

Druce, A.P. 1993: Indigenous vascular plants of New Zealand. Ninth Revision. Unpublished Checklist held at Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand.

Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285-309

NZPCN Fact Sheet citation

Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Elaeocarpus dentatus var. dentatus Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/elaeocarpus-dentatus-var-dentatus/ (Date website was queried)

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