Nestegis cunninghamii
Common name
black maire
Synonyms
Olea cunninghamii Hook.f., Gymnelaea cunninghamii (Hook.f.) L.A.S.Johnson
Family
Oleaceae
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.
NESCUN
Chromosome number
2n = 46
Current conservation status
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
Large tree bearing pairs of dark green wavy leaves that underneath are pale green and with the network of veins visible. Bark square-patterned. Leaves 7-15cm long by 1.5-4.5cm wide, juvenile leaves long and very thin. Fruit red, 10-15mm long, containing a single hard seed.
Distribution
Endemic. North, South, Hauturu (Little Barrier) and Aotea (Great Barrier) Islands. Scarce north of Auckland and often uncommon over wide parts of its former lowland range due to it being preferentially logged by early settlers. In the North Island Black Maire is now most commonly seen in the main Axial Ranges and Central Volcanic Plateau. In the South Island extending to Napenape in the east and near Greymouth in the west.
Habitat
Widespread in coastal to montane forest. Often prominent in riparian Podocarp forest and on the Podocarp forests developed on the ignimbrite and pumice country of the Central Volcanic Plateau. As a rule Black Maire seems to prefer more frost prone habitats than White Maire (Nestegis lanceolata) though both species often grow together. Black maire is also common host for white mistletoe (Tupeia antarctica) in the Central Volcanic Plateau, Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa.
Features
Stout gynodioecious spreading tree up to 25 m tall usually forming a broadly domed canopy; trunk up to 1·5m diameter, sometimes with several arising from base, usually straight and arching, sometimes twisted; bark firm (not flaking), grey-brown to dark brown, tessellated. Branches spreading, branchlets minutely pubescent. Leaves glabrous, coriaceous, dark green to brown-green above, ± dull, paler beneath, margins plane, entire with prominent raised midrib and side veins, borne on rigidly stout petioles 9-10(-15) mm long; lamina of juveniles 100-300 × 5-10 mm, narrow-linear, apex acute, base cuneately narrowed or attenuate; adult lamina 150-400(-600) × 20-40 mm, lanceolate to ovate- or elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse or subacute, coriaceous, weakly bullate and somewhat rough to touch; midrib and side veins impressed above (prominent below). Inflorescence a stout 8-12(-20)-flowered raceme 10-25 mm long; rhachis and pedicels densely pubescent. Male flowers with 2 large exserted anthers, ovary mostly rudimentary (occasionally functional); female flower with 2 sessile barren anthers, ovary with large 2-lobed stigma. Drupe 15-20 mm long, ovoid, flesh red, orange-red to purple-black; endocarp 10-18 × 6-9 mm, dull, pale orange-yellow, narrowly elliptic, elliptic to broadly elliptic, terete (sometimes weakly compressed). Seed purple-brown.
Similar taxa
Easily distinguished from the other three New Zealand species by the long, broadly lanceolate leaves with dark green slightly bullate upper surfaces and pale green undersides; by the entire leaf margins; and by the conspicuous leaf venation so evident on the leaf under surfaces. The inflorescences of Nestegis cunninghamii are also pubescent while those of the other three indigenous species are usually glabrous, or if pubescent then minutely and sparsely so. The juvenile foliage of Nestegis cunninghamii is very similar to N. lanceolata but differs by its dull rather than glossy adaxial surface. The mature branches of N. cunninghamii are consistently minutely pubescent thos eof the other species are either glabrous or sparsely puberulent.
Flowering
October - November
Flower colours
Green, White
Fruiting
December - April
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed. Difficult from cuttings. Black Maire deserves to be more widely grown as it makes an excellent specimen or street tree and once established is remarkably drought and cold tolerant. The fruit is avidly eaten by many birds especially kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae).
Etymology
cunninghamii: Named after Allan Cunningham (1791 – 1839) who was an English botanist and explorer, primarily known for his travels to Australia (New South Wales) and New Zealand to collect plants. Author of Florae Insularum Novae Zelandiae Precursor, 1837-40 (Introduction to the flora of New Zealand).
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for the NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 9 February 2011. Description adapted from Allan (1961) and Webb & Simpson (2001).
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I, Wellington, Government Printer.
Webb, C.J.; Simpson, M.J.A. 2001: Seeds of New Zealand Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons. Christchurch, Manuka Press.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Nestegis cunninghamii Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/nestegis-cunninghamii/ (Date website was queried)