Species

Alseuosmia macrophylla

Etymology

Alseuosmia: perfume grove
macrophylla: big leaf

Common Name(s)

Toropapa, Karapapa

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Alseuosmia macrophylla A.Cunn.

Family

Alseuosmiaceae

Brief Description

Glossy shrub with strong-smelling, obvious, red, tubular drooping flowers. Leaves glossy, wavy.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

ALSMAC

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Distribution

Endemic. North Island throughout but absent from the central volcanic plateau where it is replaced by A. turneri. South Island, North-West Nelson only

Flower Colours

Red / Pink

Propagation Technique

Can be grown from semi-hardwood cuttings though these strike with varying degrees of success. Seed is often hard to germinate. Layers readily. Prefers a semi-shaded site in a cool place with permanently damp soil. Slow growing and prone to sudden collapse during dry spells.

Threats

Although not considered nationally threatened this species is often heavily browsed by ungulates and possums, and rarely sets much viable seed, except where indigenous nectar feeding birds are common - such as on rodent-free offshore islands

Chromosome No.

2n = 18

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

Yes

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Fleshy berries dispersed by fruigivory (Thorsen et al., 2009).

References and further reading

Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 2009 Vol. 11 No. 4 pp. 285-309

This page last updated on 10 May 2014