Pseudopanax chathamicus
Common name
hoho, Chatham Island lancewood
Synonyms
Pseudopanax chathamicum (nom. illegit.)
Family
Araliaceae
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.
PSECHA
Chromosome number
2n = 48
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 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: IE
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: IE
2004 | Range Restricted
Brief description
Small tree with long narrow thick and fleshy leaves found only on the Chatham Islands
Distribution
Endemic. Chatham Islands only.
Habitat
A tree species found in most Chatham Island forests, more common in coastal forest where the soil is moist for much of the year. Hoho often occurs in gullies or on gentle slopes, with karamu and matipo.
Features
Small tree to 7(-12) m tall, lower trunk us. unbranched, branchlets fleshy. Leaves alternate, leaflets absent, ascending-spreading (not deflexed in young plants). Petioles c. 15-20 cm long, sheathing branchlet at base. Leaves of juvenile 5-15 cm long, lanceolate to oblong, cuneately narrowed to short petiole, acute to subacute, coarsely serrate in upper part only; leaves of young adult thicker, subcoraiaceous, 15-30 x 3-3.5 cm, variable in shape on same plant, oblong to elliptic- to obovate-oblong, distinctly apiculate, margins serrate to sinuate to nearly entire; adult leaves similar but shorter (10-15 cm long), thicker, margins smoother, and on petiole 10-20 mm long, midrib prominent, veins evident. Inflorescence an umbel, terminal, compound; staminate (male) with 5-10 primary rays, c. 5 cm long, flowers racemosely arranged; pistillate (female) with shorter primary rays, umbellules 2-5 (or more) flowered. Ovary 5-loculed, 5-ovuled, style branches connate. Fruit fleshy, broad-oblong, 6-5 mm diam., rounded style branches retained on an apical disc, very dark purple. Seeds 5 per fruit (often only 1 or 2 viable), grooved on lateral face, 4-6(-7) mm long.
Flowering
October - May
Fruiting
November - September
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed. Can be grown from semi-hardwood cuttings, though these can be slow to strike. An excellent small tree, which prefers full sun, and should be planted in a deep, damp, fertile soil
Etymology
pseudopanax: False cure
chathamicus: From the Chathams
Notes on taxonomy
The name Pseudopanax chathamicum (nom. illegit.) provided in the Flora NZ Vol. 1 (Allan 1961) has the incorrect gender suffix.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Peter J. de Lange 28 May 2004. Description adapted from Allan (1961) and Webb & Simpson (2001).
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961. Flora of NZ, Vol. I. Government Printer, Wellington.
Webb, C.J. & Simpson, M.J.A. 2001. Seeds of NZ gymnosperms and dicotyledons. Manuka Press, Christchurch.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Pseudopanax chathamicus Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/pseudopanax-chathamicus/ (Date website was queried)