Myrsine
Encyclopedia
Myrsine is a genus of flowering plants, the nominate genus of the family Myrsinaceae
. It is found nearly worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical areas. It contains about 200 species, including several notable radiations, such as the matipo of New Zealand
and the kōlea of Hawaii
(the New Zealand "black matipo", Pittosporum tenuifolium
, is not related to Myrsine). In the United States
, members of this genus are known as colicwood. Some species, especially M. africana
, are grown as ornamental shrubs.
The leathery, evergreen
leaves are simple and alternate, with smooth or toothed margins and without stipule
s. The one-seeded, in dehiscent fruit is a thin-fleshed globose drupe
. The flowers and fruits often do not develop until after leaf fall and thus appear naked on the branches. The fruits often do not mature until the year after flowering. The calyx
is persistent.
The Pacific basin and New World species formerly separated in the genera Rapanea and Suttonia (distinguished from the Africa
n and Southeast Asia
n Myrsine sensu stricto by having the style
absent and staminal tube
and filaments completely adnate to the corolla) have now been included in Myrsine.
Myrsinaceae
Myrsinaceae, or the Myrsine family, is a rather large family from the order Ericales. It consists of 35 genera and about 1000 species....
. It is found nearly worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical areas. It contains about 200 species, including several notable radiations, such as the matipo of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and the kōlea of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
(the New Zealand "black matipo", Pittosporum tenuifolium
Pittosporum tenuifolium
Pittosporum tenuifolium is a small evergreen tree native to New Zealand, known by the Maori names kohuhu and kohukohu, or as Black Matipo . It is sometimes grown under the cultivar name 'Nigricans', so called because of its black stems...
, is not related to Myrsine). In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, members of this genus are known as colicwood. Some species, especially M. africana
Myrsine africana
Myrsine africana is a species of shrub in the Myrsinaceae family. It is indigenous to South Asia and Africa. It typically has dense, dark-green to red foliage and produces tiny bright purple berries.The shrub can achieve heights of over 2 meters and may be dense if pruned or grown in strong sunlight...
, are grown as ornamental shrubs.
The leathery, evergreen
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
leaves are simple and alternate, with smooth or toothed margins and without stipule
Stipule
In botany, stipule is a term coined by Linnaeus which refers to outgrowths borne on either side of the base of a leafstalk...
s. The one-seeded, in dehiscent fruit is a thin-fleshed globose drupe
Drupe
In botany, a drupe is a fruit in which an outer fleshy part surrounds a shell of hardened endocarp with a seed inside. These fruits develop from a single carpel, and mostly from flowers with superior ovaries...
. The flowers and fruits often do not develop until after leaf fall and thus appear naked on the branches. The fruits often do not mature until the year after flowering. The calyx
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
is persistent.
The Pacific basin and New World species formerly separated in the genera Rapanea and Suttonia (distinguished from the Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
n Myrsine sensu stricto by having the style
Gynoecium
Gynoecium is most commonly used as a collective term for all carpels in a flower. A carpel is the ovule and seed producing reproductive organ in flowering plants. Carpels are derived from ovule-bearing leaves which evolved to form a closed structure containing the ovules...
absent and staminal tube
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
and filaments completely adnate to the corolla) have now been included in Myrsine.
Selected species
- Myrsine adamsoniiMyrsine adamsoniiMyrsine adamsonii is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
FosbergFrancis Raymond FosbergFrancis Raymond "Ray" Fosberg was an American botanist. A prolific collector and author, he played a significant role in the development of coral reef and island studies.-History:...
& Sachet (French PolynesiaFrench PolynesiaFrench Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
) - Myrsine africanaMyrsine africanaMyrsine africana is a species of shrub in the Myrsinaceae family. It is indigenous to South Asia and Africa. It typically has dense, dark-green to red foliage and produces tiny bright purple berries.The shrub can achieve heights of over 2 meters and may be dense if pruned or grown in strong sunlight...
(AfricaAfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and South AsiaSouth AsiaSouth Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
) - Myrsine andersoniiMyrsine andersoniiMyrsine andersonii is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Fosbert & Sachet (French Polynesia) - Myrsine aquilonia
- Myrsine argentea
- Myrsine australisMyrsine australisMyrsine australis, commonly known as Red Matipo or Mapou is a species of shrub within the family Myrsinaceae. It is endemic to New Zealand and found throughout the country and offshore islands...
- Myrsine brachyclada
- Myrsine browniiMyrsine browniiMyrsine brownii is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Fosbert & Sachet (French Polynesia) - Myrsine bullataMyrsine bullataMyrsine bullata is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to Peru.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Pipoly (PeruPeruPeru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
) - Myrsine chathamica
- Myrsine collinaMyrsine collinaMyrsine collina is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-References:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Nadeaud (French Polynesia) - Myrsine coxii
- Myrsine degeneriMyrsine degeneriMyrsine degeneri is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to the island of Oahu in Hawaii.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Hosaka (OahuOahuOahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
in Hawaii) - Myrsine diaziiMyrsine diaziiMyrsine diazii is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to Peru.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Pipoly (PeruPeruPeru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
) - Myrsine divaricata
- Myrsine falcataMyrsine falcataMyrsine falcata is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-References:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Nadeaud (French Polynesia) - Myrsine fasciculataMyrsine fasciculataMyrsine fasciculata is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family endemic to French Polynesia.-References:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
(J.Moore) Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) - Myrsine fernseeiMyrsine fernseeiMyrsine fernseei is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
(Mez) Hosaka (KauaiKauaiKauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
in Hawaii) - Myrsine fosbergiiMyrsine fosbergiiMyrsine fosbergii is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Hosaka (OahuOahuOahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
and Kauai in Hawaii) - Myrsine fuscaMyrsine fuscaMyrsine fusca is endemic to French Polynesia.Myrsine fusca is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family of Old World tropical trees and shrubs, with some in Florida and Polynesia. -References:...
(J.Moore) Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) - Myrsine gracilissimaMyrsine gracilissimaMyrsine gracilissima is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) - Myrsine hartiiMyrsine hartiiMyrsine hartii is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Myrsine hosakaeMyrsine hosakaeMyrsine hosakae is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to the Pitcairn Islands.-Source:* Waldren, S. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
H.St.John (Pitcairn IslandsPitcairn IslandsThe Pitcairn Islands , officially named the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, form a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. The islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the Pacific...
) - Myrsine howittianaMyrsine howittianaMyrsine howittiana is a shrub or small tree in the family Myrsinaceae. The species is endemic to eastern Australia....
(F.Muell.Ferdinand von MuellerBaron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, KCMG was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist.-Early life:...
ex MezCarl Christian MezCarl Christian Mez was a German botanist and university professor. He is denoted by the author abbreviation Mez when citing a botanical name.-Life and work:...
) Jackes (Eastern Australia) - Myrsine juddiiMyrsine juddiiMyrsine juddii is a rare species of flowering plant in the myrsine family known by the common name cloudswept colicwood. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the Koolau Mountains of Oahu. There is a single population made up of about 3000 individuals. Like other Hawaiian Myrsine...
- Myrsine kermadecensis
- Myrsine knudseniiMyrsine knudseniiMyrsine knudsenii is a species of tree in the myrsine family. It is endemic to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It is threatened by habitat loss....
(Rock) Hosaka (Kauai in Hawaii) - Myrsine laetevirens (Mez) Arechav.
- Myrsine lessertianaMyrsine lessertianaKōlea lau nui is a species of colicwood that is endemic to Hawaii. It inhabits dry, coastal mesic, mixed mesic, and wet forests at elevations of on all main islands. M...
A.DC. - Kōlea lau nui (HawaiiHawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
) - Myrsine linearifoliaMyrsine linearifoliaMyrsine linearifolia is a rare species of flowering plant in the myrsine family known by the common name narrowleaf colicwood. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Kauai. There are 12 populations remaining, for a total of fewer than 200 plants. Like other Hawaiian...
- Myrsine longifoliaMyrsine longifoliaMyrsine longifolia is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Nadeaud (French Polynesia) - Myrsine meziiMyrsine meziiMyrsine mezii is a species of tree in the myrsine family. It is endemic to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States....
Hosaka (KauaiKauaiKauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
in Hawaii) - Myrsine neo-zealandensis = M. montana
- Myrsine niauensisMyrsine niauensisMyrsine niauensis is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-References:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) - Myrsine nukuhivensisMyrsine nukuhivensisMyrsine nukuhivensis is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-References:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) - Myrsine nummularia
- Myrsine obovataMyrsine obovataMyrsine obovata is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
(J.Moore) Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) - Myrsine oliveriMyrsine oliveriMyrsine oliveri is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to New Zealand.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Allan (New Zealand) - Myrsine orohenensisMyrsine orohenensisMyrsine orohenensis is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
(J.Moore) Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) - Myrsine pearceMyrsine pearceMyrsine pearce is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to Peru.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
(Mez) Pipoly (Peru) - Myrsine petiolataMyrsine petiolataMyrsine petiolata is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Hosaka (KauaiKauaiKauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
in Hawaii) - Myrsine raiateensisMyrsine raiateensisMyrsine raiateensis is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
(J.Moore) Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) - Myrsine rapensisMyrsine rapensisMyrsine rapensis is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-References:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
(F.Brown) Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) - Myrsine reyneliiMyrsine reyneliiMyrsine reynelii is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to Peru.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Pipoly (Peru) - Myrsine rivularisMyrsine rivularisMyrsine rivularis is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to Peru.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
(Mez) Pipoly (Peru) - Myrsine ronuiensisMyrsine ronuiensisMyrsine ronuiensis is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
(M.Grant) Fosberg & Sachet (French Polynesia) - Myrsine salicina
- Myrsine sandwicensis A.DC. - Kōlea lau lii (Hawaii)
- Myrsine sodiroanaMyrsine sodiroanaMyrsine sodiroana is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador.-Source:* Santiana, J. & Pitman, N. 2004. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
(Mez) Pipoly (EcuadorEcuadorEcuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
) - Myrsine tahuatensisMyrsine tahuatensisMyrsine tahuatensis is a species of plant in the Myrsinaceae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia.-Source:* Florence, J. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Fosbert & Sachet (French Polynesia) - Myrsine umbricola
- Myrsine variabilisMyrsine variabilisMyrsine variabilis, known as the Muttonwood or Variable Muttonwood is a tree of eastern Australia. The range of natural distribution is from near Milton in southern New South Wales to the McIlwraith Range in far north Queensland .The habitat of the Muttonwood is at the edges of rainforests of...
= Variable Muttonwood, from eastern Australia