The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

I notice that the page on M. obovatus has just been updated. Previously I have been calling the form we have in the Wellington region Melicytus aff. obovatus as I thought it was different from the description. Has someone recently re-looked at this species?

Hi Robyn - I cannot see what you mean - unless it is the short hand description which I didn't do, that fact sheet is scarcely populated. As you should know - as an former NZPCN committee member, NZPCN does not list tag names, therefore Melicytus obovatus - which is a species aggregate comprising 3-4 entities under the name M. obovatus will be listed as M. obovatus on the website. You are correct, the Cook Strait coastal race of M. obovatus is a possible new species, differing from M. obovatus s.s. by its monoecious rather than dioecious floweri8ng habit, and other features. Melicytus obovatus s.s. is a South island endemic confined to montane areas where it usually grows on marble, limestone and other base-rich substrates. That will be the one on the fact sheet noted as present on Takaka Hill. The other two unnamed entities are one found on the Wakamarama Ranges - notably Mt. Burnett ad another small-leaved race found on Mt Owen.

Okay thanks Peter. Does that mean it should be called Melicytus obovatus agg. when I note it in a management plan? Happy new year.

Hi there Robyn and Peter - the page was updated on 6 December, but this refers to any number of edits to the page which could have been made, including correcting a typo or adding the etymology of the name, not just editing the species description.

No - I will give you another option when I am better able to do so tomorrow

I'd write that the entity in the Cook Strait area is referred to in de Lange et al. (2013) under the name Melicytus aff. obovatus (a) (AK 235617; Cook Strait) - and that there it has been assessed by the panel as 'Declining' qualified 'DP' [Data Poor] because we lack reliable trend and population data. This entity is not believed secure in the North Island part of its range - its stronghold is the outer Marlborough Sounds Islands.

Reference
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington.

Brilliant thanks. Next time you are in Wellington, I will show you the new population found on the scarp near the Porirua poo ponds.

The 'poo ponds' wicked! Can't wait!