Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Myrsinaceae
Genus: Myrsine
Species: M. aquilonia
Binomial name: Myrsine aquilonia
Synonym: Myrsine aff. divaricata
Common name: Poor Knights Mapou, Coastal matipo, Myrsine ‘Poor Knights’, Poor Knights Weeping Matipo
Myrsine aquilonia is a dioecious, suckering shrub or small tree up to 12 m tall with an erect and spreading, crowded branching habit. Aquilonia means northern, referring to the natural distribution of coastal matipo, which is found on Rauhomaumau Island, in Tutukaka, Rangaunu Harbour, and Te Arai in the far north of New Zealand. It is scarce on the mainland, however, and is found most abundantly on the Poor Knights Island group where it is often the co-dominant species in the main vegetation types.
Adult leaves (1228 x 1017 mm) are thick, dark green, and semi-glossy with a rounded or obtuse apex with a shallow notch. Tiny green flowers appear in August followed by circular purple or violet drupes in December – January.
Myrsine aquilonia can be purchased from specialised nurseries.
Plant growing at Tupare Public Gardens, New Plymouth.
A small Myrsine aquilonia shrub photographed at Otari Native Botanic Garden and Wilton's Bush Reserve. Wellington.
Myrsine aquilonia rounded leaf with a shallow notch at the apex.
Photos below of a plant at Fairfield Nursery, New Plymouth
The upper surface of a leaf
The underside of a leaf
Oil glands appear as bright orange dots at the margins.
Flower buds
The stem of a young shrub
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
