Lophomyrtus obcordata

Lophomyrtus obcordata,[1] also known as rōhutu or tutuhi, is a species of evergreen myrtle shrub in the genus Lophomyrtus, family Myrtaceae. It is found throughout New Zealand, usually in lowland forest and forest edges.[2]

Lophomyrtus obcordata
In Auckland Botanic Gardens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Lophomyrtus
Species:
L. obcordata
Binomial name
Lophomyrtus obcordata

Lophomyrtus obcordata grows to a height of 8 metres (26 ft), producing many branches closely packed together. The leaves are 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) wide by 5–10 mm long, with a very distinctive notch at the end making them heart shaped, There are oil glands on the underside of the leaves.

Lophomyrtus obcordata has white flowers in summer. The berries range in colour from red to dark red to black, are 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) in diameter, and ripen in summer to autumn.[3][4][5]

Lophomyrtus obcordata will easily hybridise with L. bullata (ramarama), the only other species in the genus. This has given rise to a number of cultivars with interesting foliage variations that are sold commercially.[6]

Propagation is usually by semi-hardwood cutting, or by seed.[2]

The wood is red coloured, very dense and hard, and has been used for small dimension inlay work.[7]

References
  1. "Notizblatt des Botanischen Gartens und Museums zu Berlin-Dahlem. Berlin-Dahlem". International Plant Names Index. International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. Mortimer, John and Bunny (1987). Trees for the New Zealand Countryside. Wellington, New Zealand: Butterworths Books. p. 241. ISBN 0-409-604-78-X.
  3. "Ramarama (Lophomyrtus bullata)". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  4. Dawson, John, Lucas, Rob (2011). New Zealand's Native Trees. Te Aka Matua Library Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa: craig potton publishing. pp. 318–319. ISBN 978-1-877517-01-3.
  5. Eagle, Audrey (2006). Eagle's Complete Trees and Shrubs of New Zealand. Te Aka Matua Library Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa: Te Papa Press. p. 264. ISBN 978-0-909010-08-9.
  6. "T.E.R.R.A.I.N". Taranaki Educational Resource Research And Information Network. 27 Jan 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  7. Riley, Murdoch (2010). Maori Healing and Herbal. Paraparaumu, New Zealand: Viking Sevenseas N.Z.Ltd. p. 427. ISBN 978-0-85467-095-6.


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