Myrsine aquilonia and M. umbricola (Myrsinaceae), two new species from New Zealand

Abstract

Myrsine aquilonia and M. umbricola are described as new species from New Zealand. M. aquilonia occurs on the Poor Knights Islands and at several places on the adjacent Northland Peninsula. It is distinguished from the other New Zealand species of Myrsine by an upright growth habit and being up to 12 m tall, spreading branches and branchlets, large-diameter trunk, often producing suckers from exposed roots near the trunk, and large obovate green leaves with a prominent apical notch. M. aquilonia is considered to have a conservation status of “At Risk (Sparse)” using the New Zealand Threat Classification System, for while abundant on the Poor Knights Islands it is known from only a few plants at the other Northland locations of Tutukaka, Te Arai, and Unahi. Myrsine umbricola is known only from silver beech forest in the Tararua Range, lower North Island, where it is sympatric withM. divaricata. This species forms a small, bushy shrub up to 4 m tall with slender trunks, and has spreading branches and branchlets and shiny, obovate, dark green leaves. M. umbricola is assessed as having a conservation status of “Acutely Threatened (Nationally Endangered)” as it is known from few subpopulations, is restricted to a small geographic area, and appears to have recruitment failure. Myrsine divaricata A.Cunn. and M. ×montana Hook.f. are lectotypified and this hybrid is attributed to M. divaricata × M. salicina. © 2004 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.