Myrsine chathamica

Detailed description

Stout, densely branched, gynodioecious, spreading tree up to 12 m tall (rarely decumbent forming sprawling patches up to 5 m diameter). Trunk up to 0.20 m dbh; usually multi-trunked or branched from near base, often bearing numerous root suckers and epicormic growth in exposed conditions; bark dark red-brown, brown or grey-brown, firm (not flaking). Branches numerous, initially upright, then spreading, often twisted, lenticellate; branchlets yellow-green to orange-green, lenticellate, initially clad in 0.2-0.35 mm long, stiff, patent to erecto-patent hairs becoming glabrous with age. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, glabrous, adaxially glossy dark green to green, abaxially paler oil-glands numerous, minute (scarcely evident adaxially, more so abaxially); midrib orange to pale yellow, initially minutely pubescent, slightly raised adaxially, prominently so abaxially, venation evident; petioles 5-10 mm long, rather rigid and somewhat fleshy when fresh, finely covered in 0.2-0.35 mm long, stiff hairs. Lamina 20-75(-120) × 15-40(-80) mm, flat, dish-shaped or recurved along margins, obovate, elliptic, broad-elliptic, apex emarginate or obtuse, margins entire. somewhat thicker than rest of lamina. Inflorescence in dense (1-)3-5(-10)-flowered fascicles. Flowers greenish yellow, pale yellow, or cream, and then spotted dark red or maroon, or wine-red spotted purple-black pedicels 4.6-7.2 mm long in fuit. Pistillate flowers: calyx 1.8-2.2 mm, tube 0.3-0.76 mm, lobes 4(-5),erecto-patent, 0.8-1.1 x 0.6-0.8 mm, oblanceolate, apex acute to subacute, margins ciliolate, cilia white; corolla 2.6-3.0 mm, tube 0.34-0.38 mm,lobes 4(-5), 2.0-2.4 x 1.0 mm, elliptic to elliptic-oblong, margins densely ciliolate,cilia white, apex rounded or obtuse. Antherodes malformed, 0.42-6.0 x 0.3-0.4 mm, apiculus recurved or absent; pollen absent. Ovary 1.8 x 2.3 mm, ellipsoid. Stigma sessile, 2.2 mm diameter, tholiform. Bisexual flowers: calyx 1.6-2.0 mm, tube 0.22-0.70 mm, lobes 4(-5), 0.6-0.9 x 0.6-0.9 mm, deltoid, margins minutely ciliolate, cilia white. Corolla 3.0-4.3 mm, tube 0.3-0.6 mm, lobes 4(-5), 2.8-4.2 × 1.4-2.0 mm, oblong-elliptic, elliptic, margins densely ciliolate,cilia white, apex obtuse to subacute. Anthers 1.9-2.1 × 0.9-1.2 mm, apiculus upright; pollen white. Ovary rudimentary or functional, if functional then 1.2-2.0 mm long. ellipsoid. Stigma sessile 2 mm diameter, tholiform. Drupe (5-)8-10 mm diameter, violet to purple, often white-spotted, globose. Endocarp 5.5-7.0 × 5.3-6.5 mm, circular or broadly elliptic, orange to light brown, surface smooth or slightly irregular, often longitudinally veined. Endocarp description adapted from Webb & Simpson (2001).