Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Myrtales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Myrtaceae
Genus
Lophomyrtus Burret
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Lophomyrtus obcordata (Raoul) Burret, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 15: 490 (1941)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Eugenia obcordata Raoul, Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. sér. 3, 2: 122 (1844)
  • ≡ Myrtus obcordata (Raoul) Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. II. (Fl. Nov.-Zel.) Part I, 71 (1852)
Vernacular Name(s):
New Zealand myrtle; Rōhutu; rōutu; Tuhuhi
 Description

Shrub up to c. 5 m. tall, with spreading branches; branchlets subterete, ± pubescent. Lvs sts fascicled, on puberulous petioles hardly 1 mm. long; lamina ± 5–10 × 5–10 mm., obcordate, cuneately narrowed to base, glab. except sts when young. Fls axillary, solitary, ± 6 mm. diam., on very slender pubescent peduncles ± 10–20 mm. long. Receptacle adnate to ovary, ± gland-dotted; sepals oblong, acute, pubescent; petals white, suborbicular. Berry broad-ovate c. 6–7 × 5 mm., bright to dark red, occ. violet. Seeds reniform, testa hard.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Dec.–Feb.; Fruiting: Jan.–(Apr.)

 Bibliography
Burret, M. 1941: Myrtaceen-studien 21. Notizblatt des Botanischen Gartens und Museums zu Berlin-Dahlem 15: 474–550.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Nationally Critical]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Hooker, J.D. 1852–1853 ("1853"): The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage of H.M. Discovery Ships Erebus and Terror in the Years 1839–1843, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross. II. Flora Novae-Zelandiae. Part I. Flowering plants. Lovell Reeve, London.
Raoul, E. 1844: Choix de plantes de la Nouvelle-Zélande. Recueillies et décrites par M.E. Raoul. Annales des Sciences Naturelles; Botanique sér. 3, 2: 113–123.