Species

Pseudopanax chathamicus

Etymology

Pseudopanax: false cure
chathamicus: From the Chathams

Common Name(s)

hoho, Chatham Island lancewood

Current Conservation Status

2012 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon

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 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Range Restricted

Qualifiers

2012 - IE
2009 - IE

Authority

Pseudopanax chathamicus Kirk

Family

Araliaceae

Brief Description

Small tree with long narrow thick and fleshy leaves found only on the Chatham Islands

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

PSECHA

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

Synonyms

Pseudopanax chathamicum (nom. illegit.)

Distribution

Endemic. Chatham Islands only.

Habitat

A tree species found in most Chatham Island forests, more common in coastal forest where the soil is moist for much of the year. Hoho often occurs in gullies or on gentle slopes, with karamu and matipo.

Features

Small tree to 7(-12) m tall, lower trunk us. unbranched, branchlets fleshy. Leaves alternate, leaflets absent, ascending-spreading (not deflexed in young plants). Petioles c. 15-20 cm long, sheathing branchlet at base. Leaves of juvenile 5-15 cm long, lanceolate to oblong, cuneately narrowed to short petiole, acute to subacute, coarsely serrate in upper part only; leaves of young adult thicker, subcoraiaceous, 15-30 x 3-3.5 cm, variable in shape on same plant, oblong to elliptic- to obovate-oblong, distinctly apiculate, margins serrate to sinuate to nearly entire; adult leaves similar but shorter (10-15 cm long), thicker, margins smoother, and on petiole 10-20 mm long, midrib prominent, veins evident. Inflorescence an umbel, terminal, compound; staminate (male) with 5-10 primary rays, c. 5 cm long, flowers racemosely arranged; pistillate (female) with shorter primary rays, umbellules 2-5 (or more) flowered. Ovary 5-loculed, 5-ovuled, style branches connate. Fruit fleshy, broad-oblong, 6-5 mm diam., rounded style branches retained on an apical disc, very dark purple. Seeds 5 per fruit (often only 1 or 2 viable), grooved on lateral face, 4-6(-7) mm long.

Flowering

October - May

Fruiting

November - September

Propagation Technique

Easy from fresh seed. Can be grown from semi-hardwood cuttings, though these can be slow to strike. An excellent small tree, which prefers full sun, and should be planted in a deep, damp, fertile soil

Chromosome No.

2n = 48

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Notes on taxonomy

The name Pseudopanax chathamicum (nom. illegit.) provided in the Flora NZ Vol. 1 (Allan 1961) has the incorrect gender suffix.

Fact Sheet Citation

Please cite as:  de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of Access): Pseudopanax chathamicus Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=646 (Date website was queried)

Attribution

Fact sheet prepared by Peter J. de Lange 28 May 2004. Description adapted from Allan (1961) and Webb & Simpson (2001).

References and further reading

Allan, H.H. 1961. Flora of NZ, Vol. I. Government Printer, Wellington.

Webb, C.J. &  Simpson, M.J.A. 2001. Seeds of NZ gymnosperms and dicotyledons. Manuka Press, Christchurch.

This page last updated on 6 Aug 2019