Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Ericales Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Primulaceae
Genus
Myrsine L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Myrsine salicina (Hook.f.) Heward ex Hook.f., Handb. New Zealand Fl. 184 (1864)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Suttonia salicina Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. I. (Fl. Antarct.) Part I, 52 (1844)
  • ≡ Rapanea salicina (Hook.f.) Mez in Engler, Pflanzenr. (Engler) 370 (1902)
Vernacular Name(s):
Toro
 Description

Tree up to 8 m. or more tall; bark very dark red to almost black. Lvs on stout flattened petioles up to 10 mm. long. Lamina 7–18 × 2–3 cm., narrow-elliptic to narrow-oblong, or almost linear, obtuse, very gradually tapering to base, coriac.; margins flat or slightly recurved. Infl. of ± dense fascicles ± 15-fld. Fls us. perfect, ± 3 mm. diam.; calyx-lobes 5, blunt, minutely ciliolate; petals oblong, revolute, often slightly connate at base. Fr. obovoid, (5)–8–9 mm. long, red to orange, 1–(2)-seeded; on pedicels up to ± 10 mm. long.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Aug.–Jan.; Fruiting: Sep.–May.

 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Gosden, J.; Courtney, S.P.; Fergus, A.J.; Barkla, J.W.; Beadel, S.M.; Champion, P.D., Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Makan, T.; Michel, P. 2024: Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 43. [Not threatened]
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]
Engler, H.G.A. 1902: Das Pflanzenreich (Engler). Vol. 9.
Hooker, J.D. 1844–1845: 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. I. Flora Antarctica. Part I. Botany of Lord Auckland’s Group and Campbell’s Island. Reeve, Brothers, London.
Hooker, J.D. 1864: Handbook of the New Zealand Flora: a systematic description of the native plants of New Zealand and the Chatham, Kermadec's, Lord Auckland's, Campbell's and Macquarie's Islands. Part I. Reeve, London.