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  5. IDd as Melicytus novae-zelandiae or Coastal Mahoe
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IDd as Melicytus novae-zelandiae or Coastal Mahoe

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John

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IDd as Melicytus novae-zelandiae or Coastal Mahoe
« on: September 03, 2011, 03:51:40 PM »
This is almost a guess what this is picture though I'm pretty sure I know the genus I haven't yet found the species so I thought I'd post it. I do think we have a forum member who should be able to identify it though!
« Last Edit: October 26, 2011, 12:53:17 PM by Alisdair »
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John
Horticulturist, photographer, author, garden designer and plant breeder; MGS member and RHS committee member. I garden at home in SW London and also at work in South London.
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John

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Re: Shrub
« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2011, 08:12:02 PM »
What I find amazing is that although I believe that I know what genus this is I cannot find any reference to it on line, so far!
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John
Horticulturist, photographer, author, garden designer and plant breeder; MGS member and RHS committee member. I garden at home in SW London and also at work in South London.
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oron peri

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Re: Shrub
« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2011, 10:57:14 PM »
And may we know which genus you refer to?
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John

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Re: Shrub
« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2011, 11:44:27 PM »
Nope.
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John
Horticulturist, photographer, author, garden designer and plant breeder; MGS member and RHS committee member. I garden at home in SW London and also at work in South London.
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MikeHardman

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Re: Shrub
« Reply #4 on: September 04, 2011, 07:18:48 AM »
Hmmm... Is it a New Zealander?
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Mike
Geologist by Uni training, IT consultant, Referee for Viola for Botanical Society of the British Isles, commissioned author and photographer on Viola for RHS (Enc. of Perennials, The Garden, The Plantsman).
I garden near Polis, Cyprus, 100m alt., on marl, but have gardened mainly in S.England

Daisy

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Re: Shrub
« Reply #5 on: September 04, 2011, 07:31:39 AM »
It reminds me a little bit, of an eleagnus.
Daisy :)
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Amateur gardener, who has gardened in Surrey and Cornwall, England, but now has a tiny garden facing north west, near the coast in north east Crete. It is 300 meters above sea level. On a steep learning curve!!! Member of both MGS and RHS
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John

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Re: Shrub
« Reply #6 on: September 04, 2011, 08:07:06 AM »
No to Eleagnus but... I wondered where Mike was! Yes to New Zealand. At least I'm pretty sure it is. As I said I don't actually know the species and I don't know the total distribution of the genus.
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John
Horticulturist, photographer, author, garden designer and plant breeder; MGS member and RHS committee member. I garden at home in SW London and also at work in South London.
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MikeHardman

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Re: Shrub
« Reply #7 on: September 04, 2011, 09:16:38 AM »
Aha! 
I thought I saw hints of Olearia in the stems/leaves (obviously not the flowers).
Thinking cap back on now...
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Mike
Geologist by Uni training, IT consultant, Referee for Viola for Botanical Society of the British Isles, commissioned author and photographer on Viola for RHS (Enc. of Perennials, The Garden, The Plantsman).
I garden near Polis, Cyprus, 100m alt., on marl, but have gardened mainly in S.England
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John

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Re: Shrub
« Reply #8 on: September 04, 2011, 09:27:23 AM »
I had assumed you knew it when you said New Zealand.
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John
Horticulturist, photographer, author, garden designer and plant breeder; MGS member and RHS committee member. I garden at home in SW London and also at work in South London.

pamela

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Re: Shrub
« Reply #9 on: September 04, 2011, 09:58:07 AM »
Hello John
Is it a Mahoe? (Maori name) I don't know the latin name for it but the picture does look like a New Zealand native, many of which have small white and often insignificant flowers.
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MikeHardman

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Re: Shrub
« Reply #10 on: September 04, 2011, 10:16:41 AM »
No John; just a feel.
I'm torn between Pittosporaceae and Melicytus.
I'll go for Melicytus.
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Mike
Geologist by Uni training, IT consultant, Referee for Viola for Botanical Society of the British Isles, commissioned author and photographer on Viola for RHS (Enc. of Perennials, The Garden, The Plantsman).
I garden near Polis, Cyprus, 100m alt., on marl, but have gardened mainly in S.England
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John

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Re: Shrub
« Reply #11 on: September 04, 2011, 10:40:50 AM »
Yes indeed. Violaceae! I also realised why I couldn't find it on the internet as I had it spelt wrong. I now think it's Melicytus ramiflorus. Do you agree?
I photographed it in the Ventnor Botanic Gardens in April a few years ago. It has a subtle charm about it and I presume evergreen leaves.
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John
Horticulturist, photographer, author, garden designer and plant breeder; MGS member and RHS committee member. I garden at home in SW London and also at work in South London.
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John

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Re: Shrub
« Reply #12 on: September 04, 2011, 12:50:40 PM »
Sorry Pamela I missed your reply. I do believe it's common name is Mahoe now I've looked it up.
Perhaps this subjects title can be change to Melicytus ramiflorus if and when the consensus is that this is correct?
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John
Horticulturist, photographer, author, garden designer and plant breeder; MGS member and RHS committee member. I garden at home in SW London and also at work in South London.
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MikeHardman

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Re: Shrub
« Reply #13 on: September 04, 2011, 01:00:51 PM »
I'm not convinced it is M. ramiflorus.
I favour Melicytus novae-zelandiae (A. Cunningham) P.S. Green.
Have a look at this drawing from Cheeseman, T.F. 1914. Illustrations of the New Zealand Flora. Vol. 1. Pl. 14.
I think that drawing fits rather well with your photo (better than with photos and drawings I have seen labelled M. ramiflorus).
I am looking at leaf shape, disposition of flowers on the stem, and form of the flowers.
What do you think, John?

The species epithet has been on the move...
Originally coined by Allan Cunningham as a species of Scaevola in 1838/9, hence:  Scaevola novae-zelandiae A. Cunningham.
Then William Hemsley moved the species from Scaevola to Hymenanthera in 1908, hence:  Hymenanthera novae-zelandiae (A. Cunningham) Hemsley.
Then Peter Green moved it from Hymenanthera to Melicytus in 1970, hence:  Melicytus novae-zelandiae (A. Cunningham) P.S. Green.

Of some interest, re Melicytus in New Zealand in general -
http://www.oratianatives.co.nz/catalogue_extras.php?article_id=70.
It points out there are 11 species of M. in NZ.
« Last Edit: September 04, 2011, 01:20:48 PM by MikeHardman »
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Mike
Geologist by Uni training, IT consultant, Referee for Viola for Botanical Society of the British Isles, commissioned author and photographer on Viola for RHS (Enc. of Perennials, The Garden, The Plantsman).
I garden near Polis, Cyprus, 100m alt., on marl, but have gardened mainly in S.England
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John

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Re: Shrub
« Reply #14 on: September 04, 2011, 02:36:00 PM »
Yes thanks, you are probably right. There are very few photo's of it but it does seem to have thicker leaves than M. ramiflorus. It is a coastal species which might also explain the thicker leathery leaves. Also the pictures of M. ramiflorus all seem to have yellowish flowers with no discernible brown tinge. Although I couldn't (quickly) find a photograph of M. novae-zelandiae in flower, just in leaf. So should we go for Melicytus novae-zelandiae?
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John
Horticulturist, photographer, author, garden designer and plant breeder; MGS member and RHS committee member. I garden at home in SW London and also at work in South London.
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