Meryta latifolia, commonly known as broad-leaved meryta or shade tree, is an evergreentree endemic to Norfolk Island, Australia, where it occurs in subtropical moist forest conditions.
Meryta latifolia grows as a single-trunked tree reaching 5 to 6 m (16.5 to 19.5 ft) tall. It may have a few branches near the top. Its wood is brittle. The wide leaves grow to 50–75 cm (19.5–29.5 in) in length by 25–30 cm (10–12 in) across. They are oblanceolate in shape, having a narrowed base and broad, rounded apex. The female inflorescence grows in a panicle at the end of the branch and is 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long, and densely clustered. The fruit is round, 5 to 6 mm long, bluntly 5 or 6-ribbed.[2]
Convicts apparently used the large leaves to wrap up dough to bake in ashes.
Taxonomyedit
Stephan Endlicher described the species as Botryodendrum latifolium in 1792.
Meryta latifolia occurs only on Norfolk Island, and is considered critically endangered because it is dioecious, having separate male and female plants. The total number of mature individual plants is less than 150, the effective reproductive population limited by the number of surviving female plants, which number approximately 20. It occurs on ten sites on Norfolk Island, but most of these contain only one or two plants and only one site has more than 13. Although one site contains approximately 115 trees, regeneration is not occurring at this site. Continuing declines in the number of mature individuals, and number of locations and subpopulations are projected for several reasons including: lack of formal protection or management programs, the vulnerability of small populations to stochastic disturbance events (e.g. cyclones), ongoing competition with invasive weeds, predation by rats, senescence of over-mature plants, and sex ratio bias. The species is adapted to moist forest conditions and is therefore susceptible to unfavourable climate change (projected increases in the incidence of drought and extreme rainfall events that cause physical damage).
Ecologyedit
The introduced song thrush nests in its foliage.[4]
Cultivationedit
Rare in cultivation, M. latifolia may be grown fairly easily in warm frost-free climates like those of Sydney, Australia, or Florida in the United States. A slightly hardier alternative is the New Zealand Puka tree, M. sinclairii, with huge broad leaves, which can withstand frosts down to -2C once established.
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Meryta latifolia.
^Department of the Environment and Energy (25 November 2003). "Meryta latifolia (Shade Tree)". Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
^"Meryta latifolia". Flora of Australia Online. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
^Seemann, Berthold Carl (1862). "Botryodendrum Endl. = Meryta Forst". Bonplandia. Zeitschrift für die gesammte Botanik (in German). 10: 294–95.
^Hermes, Neil; Evans, Owen; Evans, Beryl (1985). "Norfolk Island birds: A review 1985" (PDF). Notornis. 33 (3): 141–49.
April 18, 2024
meryta, latifolia, commonly, known, broad, leaved, meryta, shade, tree, evergreen, tree, endemic, norfolk, island, australia, where, occurs, subtropical, moist, forest, conditions, conservation, statuscritically, endangered, epbc, scientific, classificationkin. Meryta latifolia commonly known as broad leaved meryta or shade tree is an evergreen tree endemic to Norfolk Island Australia where it occurs in subtropical moist forest conditions Meryta latifoliaConservation statusCritically endangered EPBC Act 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade AsteridsOrder ApialesFamily AraliaceaeGenus MerytaSpecies M latifoliaBinomial nameMeryta latifolia Endl Seem SynonymsBotryodendrum latifolium Endl Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy 3 Distribution and status 4 Ecology 5 Cultivation 6 ReferencesDescription editMeryta latifolia grows as a single trunked tree reaching 5 to 6 m 16 5 to 19 5 ft tall It may have a few branches near the top Its wood is brittle The wide leaves grow to 50 75 cm 19 5 29 5 in in length by 25 30 cm 10 12 in across They are oblanceolate in shape having a narrowed base and broad rounded apex The female inflorescence grows in a panicle at the end of the branch and is 10 15 cm 4 6 in long and densely clustered The fruit is round 5 to 6 mm long bluntly 5 or 6 ribbed 2 Convicts apparently used the large leaves to wrap up dough to bake in ashes Taxonomy editStephan Endlicher described the species as Botryodendrum latifolium in 1792 German botanist Berthold Carl Seemann gave the species its current name in 1862 3 Distribution and status editMeryta latifolia occurs only on Norfolk Island and is considered critically endangered because it is dioecious having separate male and female plants The total number of mature individual plants is less than 150 the effective reproductive population limited by the number of surviving female plants which number approximately 20 It occurs on ten sites on Norfolk Island but most of these contain only one or two plants and only one site has more than 13 Although one site contains approximately 115 trees regeneration is not occurring at this site Continuing declines in the number of mature individuals and number of locations and subpopulations are projected for several reasons including lack of formal protection or management programs the vulnerability of small populations to stochastic disturbance events e g cyclones ongoing competition with invasive weeds predation by rats senescence of over mature plants and sex ratio bias The species is adapted to moist forest conditions and is therefore susceptible to unfavourable climate change projected increases in the incidence of drought and extreme rainfall events that cause physical damage Ecology editThe introduced song thrush nests in its foliage 4 Cultivation editRare in cultivation M latifolia may be grown fairly easily in warm frost free climates like those of Sydney Australia or Florida in the United States A slightly hardier alternative is the New Zealand Puka tree M sinclairii with huge broad leaves which can withstand frosts down to 2C once established References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Meryta latifolia Department of the Environment and Energy 25 November 2003 Meryta latifolia Shade Tree Commonwealth of Australia Retrieved 9 July 2018 Meryta latifolia Flora of Australia Online Retrieved 17 August 2018 Seemann Berthold Carl 1862 Botryodendrum Endl Meryta Forst Bonplandia Zeitschrift fur die gesammte Botanik in German 10 294 95 Hermes Neil Evans Owen Evans Beryl 1985 Norfolk Island birds A review 1985 PDF Notornis 33 3 141 49 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Meryta latifolia amp oldid 1192336613, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
