Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Myrtales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Myrtaceae
Genus
Lophomyrtus Burret
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Lophomyrtus bullata Burret, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 15: 489 (1941)
Synonymy:
  • = Myrtus bullata Sol. ex A.Cunn., Ann. Nat. Hist. 3: 115 (1839) nom. illeg., non Myrtus bullata Salis.
  • = Lophomyrtus aotearoana E.C.Nelson, New Zealand J. Bot. 33: 558 (1995) nom. illeg.
  • ≡ Myrtus aotearoana (E.C.Nelson) E.C.Nelson, New Zealand J. Bot. 33: 558 (1995) nom. illeg.
Vernacular Name(s):
New Zealand myrtle; Ramarama
 Description

Shrub or tree up to 6 m. tall or more; branchlets and young lvs hirsute. Lvs on petioles ± 2–5 mm. long; lamina subcoriac., c. 15–30–(50) × 10–15–(20) mm., broad-ovate to suborbicular, bullate, obtuse to acute or apiculate, us. reddish tinged in open (all forms may be on same plant). Fls axillary, solitary, ± 12 mm. diam., on ± hirsute peduncles c. 2 cm. long. Receptacle with 2 minute bracts at base, ± hirsute, ± 3 × 2 mm. Sepals obtuse to subacute, about elliptic-oblong; petals white, suborbicular, ciliate. Berry c. 4–8 mm. long, broad-ovoid, dark red to black; seeds ∞, reniform; testa hard.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Nov.–Feb.; Fruiting: Jan.–Apr.

 Bibliography
Burret, M. 1941: Myrtaceen-studien 21. Notizblatt des Botanischen Gartens und Museums zu Berlin-Dahlem 15: 474–550.
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: 111–115.
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]
Garnock-Jones, P.J.; Craven, L. A. 1996: The correct scientific name in Lophomyrtus (Myrtaceae) for ramarama is L. bullata Burret. New Zealand Journal of Botany 34(2): 279–280.
Nelson, E.C. 1995: Lophomyrtus aotearoana E.C.Nelson: a new Latin name for the New Zealand native myrtle, ramarama. New Zealand Journal of Botany 33(4): 557–559.