Pomaderris apetala subsp. maritima
Common names
tainui, New Zealand hazel
Synonyms
Pomaderris tainui Hector; Pomaderris apetala
Family
Rhamnaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Chromosome number
2n = 36
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) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. 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. Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: CD, RF, SO
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: CD, RF, SO
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: CD, TO, RF
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Critical
Simplified description
Rare small tree bearing oval dark green wrinkled leaves that have raised veins on the underside inhabiting several sites on the west coast of the North Island. Many parts covered in brown star-shaped fuzz. Leaves 5-7cm long by 2-3 cm wide, upper surface with scattered small star-shaped hairs (lens needed).
Distribution
Indigenous. In New Zealand, in a presumably natural state, this species was recorded from the western North Island at scattered sites between the Kawhia Harbour, Marokopa, Awakino, Mokau and Mohakatino, it is now only known from two sites in this area, Mokau and at the Mohakatino River mouth. Despite its natural scarcity this species has naturalised extremely well in the drier parts of the eastern South Island, on Stewart Island, and in the North Island around Wellington, Napier and in some locations around Hamilton and Cambridge. This species is known from Oligocene aged pollen fossils in the Te Kuiti Group limestones, and from Miocene aged leaf impressions from Southland. Present in Australia (Victoria) and Tasmania.
Habitat
In its natural state this species appears to favour windshorn coastal forest and scrub. It has however, naturalised extensively in the drier parts of Canterbury within grey scrub and tussock grassland. It also naturalises well under pines and has been found naturalised in muttonbird scrub on Stewart Island.
Detailed description
Shrub to 4 m tall, all parts covered with persistent stellate tomentum. Bark dark brown to charcoal. Branches and branchlets numerous, erect, brittle. Petioles 10 mm long. Adult leaves dark green, grey green; lamina 50-70 x 20-30 mm (juvenile foliage usually larger), narrow elliptic to broad elliptic, rugose; upper surface stellate-hairy, lower surface with stellate tomentum; whitish between veins, veins and midrib brown; margins crenulate, denticulate or slightly revolute; apex obtuse to acute; stipules 4-10 mm long, subulate, caducous. Inflorescence, an open, much-branched, pyramidal panicle up to 200 mm long. Flowers mainly terminal, greenish yellow to amber. Calyx pale green, lobes 2 mm long, spreading or reflexed. Petals absent. Anthers oblong. Ovary surmounted at apex by a tuft of white, stellate hairs, immersed within calyx at flowering. Fruit 2 mm diam., globular, black.
Similar taxa
Pomaderris aspera is rather similar and often mistakenly sold as P. apetala. This naturalised species differs from P. apetala by the larger ovate or ovate-elliptic leaves with glabrous upper leaf surfaces and by the lower leaf surfaces notably less covered in indumentum such that the venation is clearly visible. The flowers of P. aspera are distinctly yellow rather then the greenish-yellow or amber colour of P. apetala
Flowering
November - February.
Flower colours
Green, Yellow
Fruiting
January - March, though this varies.
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed or cuttings. Does best in a sunny, open, or exposed site and prefers nutrient poor soils. An excellent shelter belt plant
Threats
Habitat loss through coastal development, weed invasion, goat browse, and recruitment failure.
Etymology
pomaderris: Lid skin
apetala: From the Latin prefix a- ‘without’ and petalum ‘petal’,
maritima: From the Latin mare ‘sea’, meaning growing on the sea shore
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 20 October 2003. Description adapted from Walsh & Coates (1997).
References and further reading
Walsh, N. G.; and Coates, F. 1997: New taxa, new combinations and an infrageneric classification in Pomaderris (Rhamnaceae). Muelleria 10: 27–56.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Pomaderris apetala subsp. maritima Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/pomaderris-apetala-subsp-maritima/ (Date website was queried)