Melicytus lanceolatus explained

Melicytus lanceolatus, commonly called narrow-leaved māhoe or māhoe-wao,[1] is a small tree[2] in the family Violaceae[3] that is endemic to New Zealand.[4]

Description

Melicytus lanceolatus is a small tree that typically appears slender, glabrous,[5] and erect.[6] Melicytus lanceolatus has the potential to grow up to 5–6 m tall[7] with a trunk 30 cm in diameter.[8]

The vibrant green[9] leaves of M. lanceolatus are simple, alternate,[10] and have a finely serrated margin.[11] They are lanceolate in shape, being long, thin, and narrow.[11] [12] Typically, the leaves are between 5–16 cm long by 0.5–2 cm wide. Occasionally, the tip of the leaf will curve downward.[10] Overall, these features can make the leaves of M. lanceolatus look a lot like willow leaves.

Bark is brown to white, slightly wrinkled, and with prominent lenticels. Branches are brittle.

Flowers are small, 5 mm in diameter, and have five erect petals that curve backwards. Petal colours are variable, with some being yellow, dark purple, or with hints of both. Flowers occur in clusters of two to five.[5] [6] They grow along bare branches below leaves but occasionally from the leaf axils.[8] These clusters can be in such high quantity that they densely cover the branch in small flowers. Flowers are scented, being fragrant day and night.[13]

Melicytus lanceolatus produces dark purple round berries that are 4–6 mm in diameter. There is some discrepancy about the number of seeds in each berry, with some claiming between three to six seeds or six to twelve seeds.

Range

Natural global range

Melicytus lanceolatus is endemic to New Zealand.

New Zealand range

Melicytus lanceolatus is found in the North Island, South Island and Stewart Island, from a latitude of 35°30S (Northland region) southwards from sea level to 915 m. In the South Island, it is mostly found around Dunedin, in Southland, and west of the Southern Alps. Although M. lanceolatus occurs on Stewart Island, it is not very common.[14]

Habitat

This species prefers moist, cool areas with high rainfall from lowland up to montane forests. Melicytus lanceolatus is an early coloniser after a disturbance.[15] It can be commonly seen growing along forest margins, in regenerating forest, or as a slightly shaded understory plant. Specifically, M. lanceolatus can be found in associations with red beech, silver beech, kāmahi, and tōtara forests. However, it can also occur in shrublands, river terraces, inland valleys or frosty basins.

Ecology

Phenology

Melicytus lanceolatus is a long-lived,[16] dioecious plant. Flowering occurs from June to November (mid-winter or early spring to early summer) while fruiting occurs from July to February (late-winter to late-summer).[7] [17] Most fruits start to ripen from March to April. Insects are the primary pollinators of its flowers while frugivorous birds allow for seed dispersal. The seeds of M. lanceolatus were found to germinate after a two-month delay, often germinating in autumn or winter. Seeds could also remain viable in soil for up to thirty months.

Diet and foraging

It is tolerant of a range of soils except dry soils. It especially prefers being in a moist environment in high rainfall areas. Since it can be an understory plant, it can tolerate shade. However, it does require enough light to germinate, as seeds were found to have a very low germination rate (8%) in the dark. Since it prefers cool areas, M. lanceolatus has a cold sensitivity of –2.0°C,[18] but its leaves were found to endure frosts down to –8.3°C.[19]

Predators, Parasites, and Diseases

Due to its berries, flowers, and foliage, M. lanceolatus has interactions with insects, birds and introduced mammalian species.

Flies that have been caught visiting the flowers include fungus gnats from the family Sciaridae and Mycetophilidae, midges from the family Chironomidae, and hover flies, specifically the large hover fly.

Bees, as seen with the western honey bee, use the flowers as a pollen and nectar source.[20]

Species of moth are also associated with M. lanceolatus. Pyrgotis plagiatana has been observed visiting its flowers. Austramathes purpurea caterpillars use this species as a host plant by feeding on its leaves.[21] The caterpillars of the puriri moth use the tree as a host plant by burrowing into its trunk and eating the callus tissue produced.[22] One of the indigenous names (although less commonly used) for M. lanceolatus, “Kaiwētā”[23] (meaning “wētā food” in te reo Māori), suggests that wētā will also eat this plant. However, this could be in reference to the fact that wētā (specifically the tree wētā) live in holes made by the puriri moth,[24] making it appear as though wētā eat trees like M. lanceolatus.

Bemisia flocculosa, also known as the Melicytus whitefly, use M. lanceolatus as a host plant by feeding on the underside of its leaves.[25] This interaction occurs with other Melicytus species, hence the common name.[26]

Thrips from the family Lathriidae have been caught visiting its flowers, while larvae from the species Hercinothrips bicinctus have been found infesting its leaves.[27]

Melicytus lanceolatus is an attractive food source for birds. For example, New Zealand bellbirds eat the berries, while kererū eat the foliage, flowers, flower buds, and berries.[28]

Introduced mammals such as red deer, fallow deer, white-tailed deer, and feral goats, also eat the foliage of M. lanceolatus.[29]

=Evolution=

Melicytus lanceolatus has been described as one of the oldest Melicytus species. It was estimated to have diverged around 6.41 million years ago.[30]

=Etymology=

The genus name Melicytus is derived from the Greek words μέλι (méli), meaning "honey,"[31] and κῠ́τος (kútos), meaning "hollow container."[32] Combined, this literally means “honey cave,” referencing the nectaries below the stamens.[33]

The species name lanceolatus is a Latin word meaning “shaped like a lance,”[34] referencing the lanceolate leaves of M. lanceolatus.=Chromosome number=

The chromosome number of M. lanceolatus is 2n = 32.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Nicol . E. R . Common names of plants in New Zealand . 1997 . Manaaki Whenua Press . Christchurch, New Zealand . 9780478093100 . 38946767.
  2. Web site: Melicytus lanceolatus . New Zealand Plant Conservation Network . 11 May 2024.
  3. Web site: Melicytus lanceolatus Hook.f. . Biota of New Zealand . Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research . 11 May 2024.
  4. Book: Parsons . M.J . Macmillan . B.H . Douglass . P . Current names list for wild gymnosperms, dicotyledons and monocotyledons (except grasses) in New Zealand : as used in Herbarium CHR . 1998 . Manaaki Whenua Press . Christchurch, New Zealand . 9780478093193 . 0478093195.
  5. Book: Cheeseman . T. F . Walter Reginald Brook . O . Manual of the New Zealand flora . 1925 . Government printer . Wellington, New Zealand . 2nd . 154288888.
  6. Book: Salmon . J. T . The native trees of New Zealand . 1986 . Heinemann Reed . Wellington, New Zealand . 0790001047 . Rev . 261361033.
  7. Book: Salmon . J. T . Native New Zealand flowering plants . 1991 . Heinemann Reed . Auckland, New Zealand . 079000223X . 26036266.
  8. Book: Wardle . J. A . Platt . I . Wardle's native trees of New Zealand and their story. . 2011 . New Zealand Farm Forestry Association . Wellington, New Zealand . 978-1877520068 . 759841801.
  9. Book: Metcalf . M. J . Know your New Zealand trees . 2006 . New Holland . Auckland, New Zealand . 1869660986 . 144595167.
  10. Book: Dawson . J . Lucas . R . A field guide to New Zealand's native trees . 2012 . Craig Potton. Nelson, New Zealand . 978-1877517822 . 816328841.
  11. Book: Allan . H. H . Flora of New Zealand . 1961 . R.E. Owen, Government Printer . Wellington, New Zealand . 0477010415. 977216383 .
  12. Book: Eagle . A. L . Eagle's complete trees and shrubs of New Zealand . 2006 . Te Papa Press . Wellington, New Zealand . 9780909010089 . 85262201.
  13. Powlesland . M. H . Reproductive biology of three species of Melicytus (Violaceae) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany . 1984 . 22 . 1 . 81–94 . 10.1080/0028825x.1984.10425235. 0028-825X.
  14. Book: Cockayne . L . Report on a botanical survey of Stewart Island . 1909 . J. Mackay, Government printer . Wellington, New Zealand . 5379041.
  15. Burrows . C. J . Germination behaviour of seeds of the New Zealand woody species Ascarina lucida, Coprosma grandifolia, Melicytus lanceolatus, and Solanum laciniatum. New Zealand Journal of Botany . 1996 . 34 . 4 . 509–515 . 10.1080/0028825x.1996.10410131. 0028-825X.
  16. Book: Wardle . P . Vegetation of New Zealand . 2002 . Blackburn Press . Caldwell, New Jersey . 9781930665583 . 57965892.
  17. Powlesland . M. H . Philipp . M . Lloyd . D. G . Flowering and fruiting patterns of three species of Melicytus (Violaceae) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany . 1985 . 23 . 4 . 581–596 . 10.1080/0028825x.1985.10434229. 0028-825X.
  18. Dale . E. E . Larcombe . M. J . Potter . B. C. . Lee . W. G . Diversification and trait evolution in New Zealand woody lineages across changing biomes . Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand . 2022 . 54 . 1 . 98–123 . 10.1080/03036758.2022.2108071. 0303-6758.
  19. Bannister . P . Are frost hardiness ratings useful predictors of frost damage in the field? A test using damage records from the severe frost in South Otago and Southland, New Zealand, July 1996. New Zealand Journal of Botany . 2003 . 41 . 3 . 555–569 . 10.1080/0028825x.2003.9512869. 0028-825X.
  20. Butz Huryn . V. M . Use of native New Zealand plants by honey bees (Apis mellifera): A review. New Zealand Journal of Botany . 1995 . 33 . 4 . 497–512 . 10.1080/0028825x.1995.10410621. 0028-825X.
  21. Book: Hoare . R . Noctuinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) : part 1 : Austramathes, Cosmodes, Proteuxoa, Physetica . 2017 . Manaaki Whenua Press . Christchurch, New Zealand . 9780947525095 . 1016869674.
  22. Book: Townsend . J. I . An insect survey of Paengaroa Scenic Reserve, Mataroa . 1997 . Department of Conservation . Wellington, New Zealand . 154151991.
  23. Web site: Melicytus lanceolatus Hook.f. . nzflora . Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research . 11 May 2024.
  24. Wehi . P. M . Brownstein . G . Morgan-Richards . M . Indigenous plant naming and experimentation reveal a plant–insect relationship in New Zealand forests. Conservation Science and Practice . 2020 . 2 . 10 . 10.1111/csp2.282. 2578-4854. free .
  25. Gill . R . Holder . P . A new species of Bemisia (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) from New Zealand . Zootaxa . 2011 . 2794 . 1 . 63-68 . 10.11646/zootaxa.2794.1.5.
  26. Web site: Martin . N. A . Melicytus whitefly - Bemisia flocculosa . Interesting insects and other invertebrates . Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research . 11 May 2024.
  27. Martin . N. A . Mound . L. A. . Host plants for some New Zealand thrips (Thysanoptera: Terebrantia). New Zealand Entomologist . 2004 . 27 . 1 . 119–123 . 10.1080/00779962.2004.9722133. 0077-9962.
  28. Emeny . M. T . Powlesland . R. G . Henderson . I. M . Fordham . R. A . Feeding ecology of kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) in podocarp-hardwood forest, Whirinaki Forest Park, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Ecology . 2009 . 33 . 2 . 114–124 . 1177-7788.
  29. Forsyth . D. M . Coomes . D. A . Nugent . G . Hall . G. M . Diet and diet preferences of introduced ungulates (Order: Artiodactyla) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology . 2002 . 29 . 4 . 323–343 . 10.1080/03014223.2002.9518316. 0301-4223.
  30. Mitchell . A. D . Heenan . P. B . Murray . B. G . Molloy . B. P . de Lange . P. J . Evolution of the south-western Pacific genus Melicytus (Violaceae): evidence from DNA sequence data, cytology and sex expression. Australian Systematic Botany . 2009 . 22 . 3 . 143–157 . 10.1071/sb0804. 2024-07-28 . 1030-1887.
  31. Book: Scott . R . Liddell . H.G. . An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon. 1889 . Oxford: Clarendon Press. . 16 May 2024. 31899293.
  32. Book: Scott . R . Liddell . H. G. . A Greek-English lexicon. 1940 . Oxford: Clarendon Press . en. 16 May 2024. 1940-641X. 7547345129.
  33. Book: Poole . A. L . Adams . N. M . West . C. J . Trees and shrubs of New Zealand . 1994 . Manaaki Whenua Press . Christchurch, New Zealand . 9780478045352 . Rev.
  34. Book: Lewis . C. T . Short . C . A Latin Dictionary founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin Dictionary revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten . 1879 . Oxford: Clarendon Press . 16 May 2024. 249321852.

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