Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Malpighiales Martius
Family
Violaceae
Genus
Melicytus J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Melicytus chathamicus (F.Muell.) Garn.-Jones in Connor & Edgar, New Zealand J. Bot. 25: 127 (1987)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Hymenanthera latifolia var. chathamica F.Muell., Veg. Chatham Isl. 9 (1864)
  • ≡ Hymenanthera chathamica (F.Muell.) Kirk, Trans. New Zealand Inst. 28: 514 (1895 [1896])
Vernacular Name(s):
Chatham Island mahoe
 Description

Erect dioec. shrub up to 3 m. tall; lvs on stout petioles up to 1 cm. or more long; lamina subcoriac., 5–12 × 2–5 cm., narrow- to broad- lanceolate, acute to acuminate, coarsely bluntly serrate or occ. lvs sub- entire. Fls in close-set fascicles, on slender decurved pedicels; ♂ with ovate sepals free nearly to base, and petals nearly twice the length, revolute at apex. Scale of anthers cuneate-spathulate. ♀ on pedicel ± 2 mm. long; sepals ± 2.5 mm. long, ovate, purple, white-margined; petals ± 3·5 mm. long, ovate, purple where exposed, white below; style short. 2-fid. Berry ovoid to subglobose, white, occ. purple-flecked, (5)–6–7 mm. diam. Seeds (2)–3–4, strophiole small.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1 as Hymenanthera chathamica (F.Muell.) Kirk]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
Connor, H.E.; Edgar, E. 1987: Name changes in the indigenous New Zealand flora, 1960–1986 and Nomina Nova IV, 1983–1986. New Zealand Journal of Botany 25: 115–170.
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Naturally uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
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. [Naturally Uncommon]
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. [Naturally Uncommon]
Kirk, T. 1896: A Revision of the New Zealand Species of Hymenanthera, R. Br. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 28: 510–515.
Kirk,T. 1899: The Students' Flora of New Zealand and the Outlying Islands. Government Printer, Wellington, N.Z. [as Hymenanthera chathamica (F.Muell.) Kirk; Hymenanthera latifolia var. chathamica F.Muell.]
Mueller, F.J.H. 1864: The vegetation of the Chatham Islands. Government Printer, Melbourne.