Melicytus micranthus
Common names
swamp māhoe. manakura
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Simplified 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.
Flower colours
Violet/Purple, Yellow
Detailed description
Shrub up to 2 m. tall or occ. more; branches stiff ± interlaced; branchlets stiff, ± pubescent. Leavse sometimes fascicled; petioles slender 3-5- (10) mm. long, ± pubescent; lamina subcoriac., 1-2.5 × 1-2 cm., elliptic- to obovate-oblong to broad-ovate, sinuate to subcrenate, sometimes sub-entire. Flowers minute, axillary, solitary or 2-3 together; pedicels ± pubescent; ♂ with short ± ciliate rounded calyx-lobes; petals oblong, twice length of calyx; anthers broad, sessile; connective flat. ♀ calyx and petals as in ♂; style short, stout; stigma discoid, 3-5-lobed. Berry 3-4 mm. diam., obovoid to subglobose, dark purple; seeds (1)-4. Flowers: October - April. Fruit: November to May.
Similar taxa
Similar to juvenile kaikōmako (Pennantia corymbosa) and distingished by the prominent terminal lobes of leaf; often there are only two other squarish lobes, one on either side of the leaf, giving it a charateristic appearance that has been likened to webbed ducks feet. Small-leaved milk tree-tūrepo (Streblus heterophyllus) has distinctive juvenile foliage with deep notches, mostly near the base of the leaf, on at least some leaves, and fine serrations round th erest of the leaf margin. Raukaua anomalus is also similar but has a dark (rather the white) blotch at leaf base.
Distribution
North and South Islands. Local in Eastern Canterbury, rare in Westland.
Habitat
Lowland forst, scrub and forest margins, espically on drier sites and on alluvial ground.
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – these interim threat classification statuses has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | Not Threatened
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Violaceae
Synonyms
Elaeodendron micranthum Hook.f., Melicytus micranthus Hook.f., Melicytus micranthus Hook.f. var. micranthus, Melicytus microphyllus Colenso, Melicytus micranthus var. microphyllus (Colenso) Cheeseman
Taxonomic 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. Type locality: Neslon.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
FAC: Facultative
Commonly occurs as either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte (non-wetlands).
Other information
Plant of the Month
This plant has been featured as a Plant of the Month – see Trilepidea: NZPCN newsletter for April 2019 for the full story.
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
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.
MELMIC
Chromosome number
2n = 96
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | Not Threatened
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Allan, H. H. 1961. Flora of New Zealand. Vol. 1. Wellington: Government Printer. Pg. 425-426.
Wilson, H & Galloway, T. 1993. Small-leaved shrubs of NZ. Manuka Press, Christchurch.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (23 March 2023). Distribution, Habitat, and similar taxa sections copied with permission from Wilson & Galloway (1993). Features from Allan (1961).
Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.