Pseudowintera insperata
Common name
Northland horopito
Synonyms
None
Family
Winteraceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
Yes
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Chromosome number
2n = 84
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley. Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP
2004 | Not Threatened
Brief description
Small tree with dark trunks and reddish twigs bearing shiny oval leaves that are white underneath (excepting central vein) inhabiting sites in Northland. Leaves 35-110mm long by 18-45mm, central vein green above, red underneath. Flowers small, green. Fruit small and purple.
Distribution
Endemic. North Island, formerly on all the northern Whangarei Harbour highpoints from Maungatapere to Bream Head, and also at Logues Bush near Wellsford. Now only known from Mt Manaia, Bream Head and Logues Bush.
Habitat
Coastal, lowland, and alluvial forest, and on exposed ridge tops within low windshorn scrub and forest overlying skeletal soils developed on igenous (andesitic and basaltic) rocks, talus and rock outcrops.
Detailed description
Shrub or small tree up to 7 m tall; trunks and branches upright. Branchlets red-brown to maroon-black, glabrous or hairy. Leaf buds and expanding leaves usually hairy on lamina margin, undersides and petiole. Petiole 4-11 x 1.4-2.4 mm, red-brown to maroon. Leaves 35-110 x 18-45 mm, upper surface glossy, dark green to yellow-green, without blemishes or blotches; midvein conspicuous, pale cream to yellow-green, glabrous or sparsely hairy; lamina broadly obovate, oblanceolate, elliptic, broadly elliptic to orbicular, coriaceous; undersides white; midvein red, sparsely hairy or glabrous. Inflorescences axillary, flowers bisexual, solitary or in fascicles of 2-3. Calyx cupule 2.8-2.9 mm diam., margins entire. Corolla comprised of 5-8 free petals, these 3.8-7.0 x 2.3-3.0 mm, broadly elliptic, cream, apex obtuse. Carpels 2-5, free, obovoid, stigma apical. Stamens 13-22, free. Fruit a 1-4-seeded berry, 6.4-9.8 x 4.9-1.8-2.3 mm, black, obovoid to obovoid-oblong.
Similar taxa
Distinguished from P. axillaris, P. colorata and P. traversii by its small tree habit, with an erect growth form, broadly obovate to broadly elliptic leaves that are glossy, without blemishes and blotches, and by the conspicuous pale cream to yellow-green midvein. The inflorescences have ciliate bracts, and an entire cupule, and the fruits are black.
Flowering
(October-) December - February
Flower colours
Cream, Yellow
Fruiting
November - May
Propagation technique
Can be grown from semi-hardwood cuttings which, though slow strike readily. Fresh seed should germinate well, though it may take 1-2 years to germinate.
Threats
Herbarium specimens suggest there was once six discrete populations, three of these are now probably extinct. Of the remaining three, one plant survives at Logues Bush, and there are c.50 adult plants at the other two sites. Although recruitment is happening at the two main populations, all three populations occupy an area of < 1 ha. Although active threats are not evident, one population is potentially vulnerable to trampling. The plant at Logues Bush is in ill thrift. For all these reasons this species is regarded at seriously threatened. However, it is cryptic, and easily overlooked and current population estimates are probably inaccurate. For these reasons the threat ranking is qualified as Data Poor (DP)
Etymology
pseudowintera: False Wintera (a related genus)
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Notes on taxonomy
Recognised as distinct in 2003. Prior to that these northerly plants had usually been referred to P. axillaris or as hybrids between P. axillaris and P. colorata.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 12 December 2006: Description modified from Heenan & de Lange (2006).
References and further reading
Heenan, P. B. and de Lange, P. J.2006: Pseudowintera insperata (Winteraceae), an overlooked and rare new species from northern New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 44: 89–98.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Pseudowintera insperata Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/pseudowintera-insperata/ (Date website was queried)