Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Sapindales Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Rutaceae
Genus
Melicope J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Melicope simplex A.Cunn., Ann. Nat. Hist. 3: 315 (1839)
Synonymy:
  • = Astorganthus huegelii Endl. (1843) nom. nud.
  • = Melicope parvula Buchanan, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 20: 255 (1887 [1888])
Vernacular Name(s):
Poataniwha; Tātaka
 Description

Glab., ± divaricate shrub up to 30 dm. or more tall; branchlets slender. Lvs of seedling and young plants 3-foliolate, on very slender petioles up to c. 2 cm. long; lflts ± 5–10 × 3–10 mm., ± rhomboid; margins crenulate to subentire. Lvs of mature plants mostly 1-foliolate, on slender flattened petioles up to 5 mm. long; alt. or clustered on short arrested branchlets; (5)–10–15–(20) × (5)–10–15–(20) mm., rhomboid to suborbicular, gland-dotted, crenulate. Infl. of 1–4 axillary fls, on very slender peduncles up to 5 mm. long; bracts minute, ovate. Fls perfect to unisexual, c. 5 mm. diam.; sepals minute, triangular; petals ± 3 mm. long, greenish to clear white; stamens exserted in ♂.♀ with pilose ovary; style exserted; stigma capitate, obscurely 4-lobed. Fr. and seed as in , but smaller.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Sep.–Nov.; Fruiting: Dec.–Feb.–(Apr.)

 Bibliography
Buchanan, J. 1888 ("1887"): Botanical Notes. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 20: 255.
Cunningham, A. 1839: Florae insularum Novae Zelandiae precursor; or a specimen of the botany of the islands of New Zealand. Annals of Natural History 3: 314–319.
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. [Not Threatened]
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]
Hartley, T.G. 2000: On the Taxonomy and Biogeography of Euodia and Melicope (Rutaceae). Allertonia 8(1): 1–319.