Species
Pomaderris apetala subsp. maritima
Etymology
Pomaderris: lid skin
apetala: Without petals
maritima: From the Latin mare 'sea', meaning growing on the sea shore
Common Name(s)
Tainui, New Zealand hazel
Current Conservation Status
2012 - Threatened - Nationally Critical
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 - Threatened - Nationally Critical
2004 - Threatened - Nationally Critical
Qualifiers
2012 - CD, RF, SO
2009 - CD, TO, RF
Authority
Pomaderris apetala subsp. maritima N.G.Walsh et F.Coates
Family
Rhamnaceae
Brief Description
Rare small tree bearing oval dark green wrinkled leaves that have raised veins on the underside inhabiting several sites on the west coast of the North Island. Many parts covered in brown star-shaped fuzz. Leaves 5-7cm long by 2-3 cm wide, upper surface with scattered small star-shaped hairs (lens needed).
Flora Category
Vascular - Native
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs
Synonyms
Pomaderris tainui Hector; Pomaderris apetala
Distribution
Indigenous. In New Zealand, in a presumably natural state, this species was recorded from the western North Island at scattered sites between the Kawhia Harbour, Marokopa, Awakino, Mokau and Mohakatino, it is now only known from two sites in this area, Mokau and at the Mohakatino River mouth. Despite its natural scarcity this species has naturalised extremely well in the drier parts of the eastern South Island, on Stewart Island, and in the North Island around Wellington, Napier and in some locations around Hamilton and Cambridge. This species is known from Oligocene aged pollen fossils in the Te Kuiti Group limestones, and from Miocene aged leaf impressions from Southland. Present in Australia (Victoria) and Tasmania.
Habitat
In its natural state this species appears to favour windshorn coastal forest and scrub. It has however, naturalised extensively in the drier parts of Canterbury within grey scrub and tussock grassland. It also naturalises well under pines and has been found naturalised in muttonbird scrub on Stewart Island.
Features
Shrub to 4 m tall, all parts covered with persistent stellate tomentum. Bark dark brown to charcoal. Branches and branchlets numerous, erect, brittle. Petioles 10 mm long. Adult leaves dark green, grey green; lamina 50-70 x 20-30 mm (juvenile foliage usually larger), narrow elliptic to broad elliptic, rugose; upper surface stellate-hairy, lower surface with stellate tomentum; whitish between veins, veins and midrib brown; margins crenulate, denticulate or slightly revolute; apex obtuse to acute; stipules 4-10 mm long, subulate, caducous. Inflorescence, an open, much-branched, pyramidal panicle up to 200 mm long. Flowers mainly terminal, greenish yellow to amber. Calyx pale green, lobes 2 mm long, spreading or reflexed. Petals absent. Anthers oblong. Ovary surmounted at apex by a tuft of white, stellate hairs, immersed within calyx at flowering. Fruit 2 mm diam., globular, black.
Similar Taxa
Pomaderris aspera is rather similar and often mistakenly sold as P. apetala. This naturalised species differs from P. apetala by the larger ovate or ovate-elliptic leaves with glabrous upper leaf surfaces and by the lower leaf surfaces notably less covered in indumentum such that the venation is clearly visible. The flowers of P. aspera are distinctly yellow rather then the greenish-yellow or amber colour of P. apetala
Flowering
November - February.
Flower Colours
Green,Yellow
Fruiting
January - March, though this varies.
Propagation Technique
Easy from fresh seed or cuttings. Does best in a sunny, open, or exposed site and prefers nutrient poor soils. An excellent shelter belt plant
Threats
Habitat loss through coastal development, weed invasion, goat browse, and recruitment failure.
Chromosome No.
2n = 36
Endemic Taxon
No
Endemic Genus
No
Endemic Family
No
This page last updated on 17 Apr 2014