Order XLV. MYRSINEÆ.
Trees or shrubs, usually glabrous. Leaves alternate, undivided, generally provided with pellucid glandular dots; stipules wanting. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or polygamous. Calyx usually inferior, 4–6-lobed or -partite, segments often ciliate. Corolla gamopetalous (rarely polypetalous), segments (or petals) 4–6, contorted or imbricated. Stamens opposite to the corolla-lobes and equal to them in number, free or adnate to the tube. Anthers oblong, 2-celled, sometimes coherent. Ovary usually superior, 1-celled; style single, stigma generally capitate; ovules few or many, inserted on a free central placenta. Fruit a one- to several-seeded drupe or berry. Seeds roundish or angular; albumen copious, sometimes pitted or ruminate; embryo usually transverse.
An order of considerable size (according to the most recent enumeration including over 30 genera and 900 species), widely spread over the warm regions of the globe, rare or absent in temperate climates, except in New Zealand. Economic properties unimportant. The single genus found in New Zealand has a wide range in the tropics of both hemispheres.
1. MYRSINE, Linn.
Small trees or shrubs. Leaves coriaceous, entire or rarely toothed. Flowers small, polygamous or often aioecious, in sessile or stalked axillary fascicles or umbels or sometimes solitary; usually springing from the nodes on the old wood below the leaves. Calyx small, 4–5-fid, persistent. Corolla 4–5-partite or of 4–5 distinct petals; segments imbricate or rarely valvate, spreading or recurved. Stamens 4–5, inserted near the base of the corolla, filaments short. Ovary superior, 1-celled; style short or altogether absent; stigma capitate or lobed or fringed; ovules few, sunk in a fleshy placenta. Fruit small, globose, drupaceous, dry or fleshy. Seed solitary, usually surrounded by the remains of the placenta; albumen horny; embryo elongated, often curved.
Taken in the sense of the "Genera Plantarum" this is a genus of from 120 to 150 species, most of them natives of tropical Asia, Africa, and America; with comparatively few species in extra-tropical Asia and Africa, in Australia, New Zealand, and Polynesia; the 8 species found in New Zealand being all endemic. In Carl Mez's recent monograph of the order, published in "Das Pflanzenreich," the New Zealand forms are referred to the genera Suttonia and Rapanea, the first comprising those with absolutely free petals, the second those in which the corolla is more or less gamopetalous. But in the three species which Mez places in Rapanea one has the petals absolutely free, and in the two others they only cohere very slightly at the base. Without expressing any opinion as to how far it may be advisable to dismember the original genus Myrsine, I certainly think that the New Zealand species form a natural group, and are best kept together. If it is necessary to separate them from Myrsine, the characters of Suttonia should be enlarged so as to take in the whole of them.
| A. Petals united at the base (often very slightly in M. salicina). | |
| Leaves 1½–2½ in. long, elliptic or obovate-oblong usually acute | 1. M. kermadecensis. |
| Leaves 3–7 in. long, linear or linear-oblong | 2. M. salicina. |
| B. Petals quite free. | |
| Tree 10–20 ft. Leaves 1–2 in., oblong or obovate, rather thin, margins undulate. Fruit ⅛ in. diam. | 3. M. Urvillei. |
| Tree 10–20 ft. Leaves 1–2½ in., obovate, coriaceous, margins flat. Fascicles many-flowered. Fruit ¼–⅓ in. diam. | 4. M. chathamica. |
| Shrub 8–15 ft.; branches stout, pubescent. Leaves ½–¾ in., narrow-obovate, coriaceous. Flowers solitary or few together, almost sessile | 5. M. Coxii. |
| Shrub 8–15 ft.; branches slender, glabrous. Leaves ¾–1¼ in., obovate, rather thin. Flowers in 2–5-flowered fascicles; pedicels slender, distinct | 6. M. montana. |
| Shrub 4–12 ft.; branches spreading, tortuous and interlaced. Leaves ¼–½ in., broadly obovate or obcordate, retuse or 2-lobed | 7. M. divaricata. |
| Trailing or prostrate shrub 4–18 in. long. Leaves small, ¼–⅓ in., broadly oblong or orbicular | 8. M. nummularia |
M. brachyclada, Colenso in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxii. (1890) 478, is a small state of Aristotelia fruticosa.
1. M. kermadecensis, Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxiv. (1892) 410.—A small glabrous tree 8–15 ft. high; bark rough, blackish-brown. Leaves 1½–2½ in. long, elliptic-oblong or obovate-oblong, acute or obtuse, narrowed into petioles ⅙–¼ in. long, entire, coriaceous, glandular-dotted, veins copiously reticulated, margins slightly recurved. Flowers in many-flowered fascicles on the old wood below the leaves, small, 110–18 in. diam., unisexual; pedicels short, ⅛–⅙ in. long. Calyx minute, 4–5-lobed; lobes short, broad. Corolla divided nearly to the base into 4 or 5 ovate acute lobes, which are fringed on the margins. Anthers nearly as large as the lobes. Female flowers not seen. Fruit globose, ¼–⅓ in. diam., black when fully ripe, 1-seeded.—Rapanea kermadecensis, Mez in Pflanzenreich, Heft 9, 371.
Kermadec Islands: Sunday Island, abundant throughout, T. F. C. Sea-level to 1500 ft. August.
This and the following are the only New Zealand species in which the petals cohere at the base.
2. M. salicina, Heward in Hook. Lond. Journ. Bot. i. (1842) 283, in note.—A small tree 15–30 ft. high, perfectly glabrous in all its parts; bark black or dark-red; branches usually leafy at the tips only. Leaves spreading, 3–7 in. long, ½–¾ in. broad, linear or linear-oblong, obtuse, narrowed into a short stout petiole, quire entire, marked with oblong pellucid glands, veined, margins flat. Flowers in dense many-flowered fascicles on the branches below the leaves, hermaphrodite, 110–18 in. diam. Calyx 5-lobed; lobes rounded, ciliate. Petals 5, oblong, revolute, cohering at the base. Stamens 5, affixed to the base of the petals. Drupe oblong, ⅓ in. long, red, 1- or rarely 2-seeded.—Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 184; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 15. Suttonia salicina, Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 52; Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 172, t. 44. Rapanea salicina, Mez in Pflanzenreich, Heft 9, 370.
North and South Islands: Not uncommon in woods from the North Cape to Marlborough and Westland. Sea-level to 2800 ft. Toro. September–December.
Wood dark-red, prettily marked; often employed by cabinetmakers for inlaying.
3. M. Urvillei, A. D.C. in Trans. Linn. Soc. xvii. (1834) 105.—A small closely branched tree 10–20 ft. high; bark dark-brown or black, red on the young branches. Leaves alternate, spreading, 1–2 in. long, oblong or obovate-oblong, obtuse, shortly petiolate, thinly coriaceous, glabrous or the midrib puberulous above, veined, dotted with rounded pellucid glands, margins strongly undulate. Flowers crowded in fascicles on the branches below the leaves or axillary, small, 115–110 diam., whitish, unisexual; pedicels short. Calyx small, 4-lobed; lobes sometimes wanting. Petals 4, quite free, revolute. Male flowers with 4 stameus and an abortive ovary; anthers as large or larger than the petals. Female flowers much smaller; anthers smaller, empty. Ovary with a large sessile fringed stigma. Fruit small, rounded, ⅛ in. diam., black when fully ripe.—A. Cunn. Precur. n. 405; Raoul, Choix, 44; Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 184; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 16. M. Richardiana, Endl. in Ann. Wien. Mus. i. (1836) 171. Rapanea Urvillei, Mez in Pflanzenreich, Heft 9, 371. Suttonia australis, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 249, t. 38; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 172.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Abundant in woods from the North Cape southwards. Sea-level to 3000 ft. Mapau; Tipau. March–April.
4. M. chathamica, F. Muell Veg. Chath. Is. 38, t. 7.—A small tree 10–20 ft. high with dark bark; branches stout, the ultimate ones pubescent with short stiff hairs. Leaves 1–2½ in. long, obovate, obtuse or emarginate at the tip, narrowed into a short stout petiole, entire, thick and coriaceous, glabrous or pubescent along the midrib, flat, glandular-dotted, veins reticulated on both surfaces. Flowers in many-flowered fascicles on the branches below the leaves or occasionally axillary, small, 110 in. diam., unisexual; pedicels ⅙–¼ in. long, rather stout. Calyx 4-lobed; lobes deltoid, ciliolate. Petals 4, quite free, oblong, obtuse, fimbriate, densely studded with reddish glands. Anthers almost as large as the petals. Ovary 1-celled; stigma sessile, capitate. Fruit globose, ¼–⅓ in. diam., purplish, 1-seeded.—Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 736. Suttonia chathamica, Mez in Pflanzenreich, Heft 9, 333.
Chatham Islands: Abundant in woods, H. H. Travers! Cox and Cockayne! Stewart Island: Not common, G. M. Thomson, Kirk! August–September.
5. M. Coxii, Cockayne in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxxiv. (1902) 318.—A closely branched shrub 8–15 ft. high; bark rough, dark-brown; ultimate branchlets more or less pubescent with short stiff white hairs. Leaves alternate or crowded on short lateral branchlets, ½–¾ in. long, narrow obovate, obtuse or emarginate, gradually narrowed into a short petiole, entire, coriaceous, glandular-dotted, veins finely reticulated on both surfaces; margins flat, ciliated when young. Flowers in fascicles of 2 or 3 on the branches below the leaves, rarely solitary in the axils of the leaves, small, almost sessile but the pedicels lengthening in fruit. Calyx 4-lobed; lobes deltoid, ciliate. Petals 4, quite free, obovate-oblong, obtuse, ciliate, marked with reddish glands. Anthers almost as large as the petals. Stigma sessile, capitate. Fruit about ¼ in. diam., globose, purplish, 1-seeded.—Suttonia Coxii, Cockayne in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxxv. (1903) 359.
Chatham Islands: Not uncommon in swampy forests, Cox and Cockayne! July–August.
Closely allied to the preceding, but distinguished by the smaller size, smaller and proportionately narrower leaves, few-flowered fascicles, and almost sessile flowers. Mr. Cockayne informs me that it has creeping underground stems, which at intervals put up erect branches.
6. M. montana, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 184.—A perfectly glabrous shrub or small tree 8–15 ft. high; bark dark red-brown. Leaves alternate, ¾–1¼ in. long, narrow-obovate, obtuse or emarginate, gradually narrowed into a short slender petiole, coriaceous or almost membranous, quite glabrous, glandular-dotted, veins reticulated on both surfaces, cuticle beneath sometimes loose and wrinkled when dry; margins flat or slightly recurved, sometimes obscurely sinuate towards the tip. Flowers in 2–5-flowered fascicles on the branches below the leaves, rarely solitary, small, ⅛ in. diam., unisexual; pedicels rather slender, about ⅙ in. long. Calyx 4-lobed; lobes oblong, rounded. Petals 4, quite free, obovate-oblong, obtuse, revolute, ciliate. Anthers nearly as large as the lobes. Female flowers not seen. Fruit globose, 110 in. diam.—M. neo-zealandensis, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxii. (1890) 479. Suttonia montana, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 334; Mez in Pflanzenreich, Heft 9, 334. S. neo-zealandensis, Mez, l.c.
North Island: Ruahine Range and Hawke's Bay, Colenso! South Island: Marlborough—Mount Stokes, McMahon! Nelson—Maitai Valley, T. F. C.; near Westport, W. Townson! Sea-level to 3000 ft.
Mez keeps up M. neo-zealandensis as a distinct species, but an examination of the type specimens in Mr. Colenso's herbarium has convinced me that it cannot be retained even as a variety.
7. M. divaricata, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 406.—A much-branched shrub 4–12 ft. high, with the habit of a small-leaved Coprosma; bark rough, dark-brown; branches spreading, rigid, interlaced, often deflexed at the tips; branchlets usually pubescent. Leaves alternate or fascicled on short lateral branchlets, small, spreading, ¼–½ in. long, broadly obovate or obcordate, obtuse or retuse or 2-lobed at the tip, narrowed into a short petiole, coriaceous, glabrous, glandular-dotted, veins reticulated on both surfaces, cuticle often wrinkled beneath when dry; margins flat or slightly recurved, ciliate when young. Flowers in few-flowered fascicles or solitary, minute, 112–110 in. diam. Calyx 4-lobed; lobes ovate, obtuse. Petals 4 (rarely 5), quite free, obovate, revolute. Anthers almost as large as the petals. Style short; stigma capitate, lobed or crenate. Fruit depressed-globose, ⅙ in. diam., purplish.—Raoul, Choix, 44; Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 184. M. pendula, Col. in. Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxi. (1889) 94. Suttonia divaricata, Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 51, t. 34; Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 173; Mez in Pflanzenreich, Heft 9, 334.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Auckland and Campbell Islands: From Kaitaia and Mongonui southwards, but local to the north of the Waikato Kiver. Sea-level to 4000 ft. August–October.
A very variable plant, but easily recognised by its mode of growth, which much resembles that of a small-leaved Coprosma.
8. M. nummularia, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 184.—A very small prostrate or trailing shrub, with slender straggling branches 4–18 in. long; bark dark red-brown. Leaves small, spreading, ¼–⅓ in. long, broadly oblong or obovate to orbicular, obtuse or minutely apiculate, shortly petiolate, coriaceous, glabrous, finely reticulated above, often wrinkled beneath, dotted with numerous rounded pellucid glands; margins slightly recurved, ciliate when young. Flowers minute, solitary or in fascicles of 2 or 3, axillary or on the branches below the leaves. Calyx very small, 4-lobed; lobes ovate, obtuse. Petals 4, quite free, obovate, concave, ciliate. Anthers almost as large as the petals. Female flowers smaller than the males. Ovary conical, narrowed above; stigma large, irregularly lobed or expanded. Fruit globose, ⅕–¼ in. diam., bluish-purple.—Suttonia nummularia, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 173, t, 45; Mez in Pflanzenreich, Heft 9, 335.
North Island: Ruapehu, Petrie! Rev. F. H. Spencer! Ruahine Range and Lake Rotoatara, Colenso! Upper Rangitikei, Buchanan! South Island: Mountainous districts from Nelson to Foveaux Strait, but not very common. Stewart Island: Mount Anglem, Kirk! 2000–5000 ft. December–January.