Search

Myoporum semotum is described as a new species from the Chatham Islands, New Zealand, where it is known from Pitt Island, and the neighbouring South East, Rabbit, Mangere and Little Mangere islands. Notably, it is absent from Chatham Island where only Myoporum laetum occurs. Myoporum semotum is a coastal species occurring mostly in forest habitats but also in wind-shorn coastal shrubland. This new species is distinguished from M. laetum by its smoother bark, usually wider leaves, the leaf secretory cavities being obscure, smaller and dense, the midrib, petioles and branchlets being smooth and lacking prominent protruding tubercules, and in having slightly larger flowers. The conservation status of M. semotum is assessed as Nationally Vulnerable as it is currently known from between 1000 and 5000 mature plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]