Melicytus novae-zelandiae subsp. centurionis explained

Melicytus novae-zelandiae subsp. centurionis is a flowering plant in the family Violaceae. It is a subspecies of Melicytus novae-zelandiae, known in New Zealand as coastal mahoe. The subspecific epithet honours the military Captain James Doran McComish (1881–1948), who made several visits in the 1930s to collect plants on Lord Howe Island.[1]

Description

It is a shrub or small tree growing to 5 m in height. The chartaceous (papery), glabrous, oval leaves are 40–70 mm long, 15–27 mm wide. Clusters of small greenish yellow flowers, 2 mm long, appear from August to October. The round, purple fruits are 6 mm in diameter.[1] [2]

Distribution and habitat

The subspecies is endemic to Australia’s subtropical Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. There it is rare, occurring in forests at intermediate elevations.[1] [2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Melicytus novae-zelandiae subsp. centurionis . 2014-02-24. Flora of Australia Online: Data derived from Flora of Australia Volume 49 (1994) . Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) .
  2. Book: The Australian Geographic Book of Lord Howe Island . Hutton, Ian . 1998 . Australian Geographic . Sydney . 978-1-876276-27-0 . 145.