Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Proteales
Family
Proteaceae
Genus
Toronia L.A.S.Johnson & B.G.Briggs
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Toronia toru (A.Cunn.) L.A.S.Johnson & B.G.Briggs, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 70: 174-175 (1975)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Persoonia toru A.Cunn. in Hooker, Bot. Mag. 63, sub t. 3513 (1836)
Etymology:
The epithet toru is a Maori word for the plant.
Vernacular Name(s):
Mihimihi; Toro; Toru; Toto
 Description

Subfastigiately branched tree up to 10 m. or more tall; trunk up to 2 dm. or more diam.; branchlets minutely puberulous. Lvs alt. or subwhorled, on stout petioles ± 2 mm. long; lamina 16–20 cm. × 8–15 mm., narrow linear-lanceolate, rather abruptly acute or apiculate, very gradually narrowed to petiole, entire, thick, coriac., glab., ± glossy. Fls fragrant, in strict axillary 6–12-fld racemes up to ± 5 cm. long; axis and very short pedicels clad in ferruginous pubescence; bracts minute, basal. Per. brownish yellow, 5–9 mm. long; segs linear, ± undulate on margins, pubescent without. Ovary subsessile, glab.; style short, thick; stigma oblique. Drupe ellipsoid, reddish, 12–18 mm. long, 1–2-celled. Seeds ± 6 mm. long, shortly stipitate, apiculate.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1 as Persoonia toru A.Cunn.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
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]
Hooker, W.J. (ed.) 1836: Curtis's Botanical Magazine Comprising the Plants of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew and of other botanical establishments in Great Britain with suitable descriptions; and a supplement of botanical and horticultural information. Vol. 63. Lovell Reeve, London.
Johnson, L.A.S.; Briggs, B.G. 1975: On the Proteaceae - the evolution and classification of a southern family. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 70(2): 83–182.