Parsonsia heterophylla, commonly called New Zealand jasmine or kaihua, is a climbing plant endemic to New Zealand.[1] It was first described by Alan Cunningham in 1839.[2][3]
| Parsonsia heterophylla | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Parsonsia |
| Species: | P. heterophylla
|
| Binomial name | |
| Parsonsia heterophylla | |
| |
| Occurrence data from GBIF | |
The name heterophylla comes from the differing leaf shapes that can be seen in seedlings and juvenile plants of the species.[4] Heterophylla means varied leaves, from the Greek words heteros and phullon.[5] Synonyms for this species include Parsonsia albiflora Raoul[2][6] and Parsonsia macrocarpa Colenso.[2][7] It can also be described as "the varied-leaved Parsonsia".[8] There are 40 species of Parsonsia found in Asia, Australasia and the Pacific. P. heterophylla is one of two endemic Parsonsia species found in New Zealand.[9] It is more robust and has bigger flowers than its close relative, Parsonsia capsularis, which is also known as akakiore or small Māori jasmine.[10]
Parsonsia variabilis Lindl. is listed as a synonym by the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network.[5] However, IPNI[11] and Plants of the World online[12] list Parsonsia variabilis as a synonym of Parsonsia capsularis.
Description
edit
The flowers of P. heterophylla are "white, scented, and tubular with anthers hidden within the tube."[9] This species has also been observed rarely to have yellow flowers.[13] They appear in many-flowered, fairly compact clusters on the plant.[13] The flowers are small, each usually up to 8mm in size.[10] The flowers are often described for their peculiar scent.[1] Often seen draped over the tops of tall trees, the flowers are more recognisable by their scent than their appearance.[9]
The fruit of P. heterophylla is a long, narrow pod that opens to release tufted seeds.[9] These seeds pods are around 15 cm long.[10] Each pod holds numerous seeds, and each one is tipped with a tuft of silky hairs.[4] The two-valved pod opens from the tip downwards, bending outwards and raising seeds up so that their tufts can be caught by the wind.[14] The fruit pods start green, turning to brown and then after the seeds have been dispersed, the dry, empty pods hang a long time on the plant.[4]
The leaves of P. heterophylla are variable in size and shape, both in all stages of its life.[15] The leaves of seedlings and juvenile plants are largely diverse, and a range of small and round, long and narrow and irregularly shaped leaves can all be found mixed on the same plant.[13] In adults, the leaves are described as "opposite, rather shiny and rather dark green from above, much paler underneath, more or less smooth-edge but often somewhat wavy edged, more than 1 cm wide, often 2, 3, or 4 cm wide and up to 10cm long".[13] While the leaves of adult plants are usually shorter and broader than in juveniles, they are still variable in shape.[15] The leaf types can narrowly be defined as small round, long narrow and moderately broad and oblong.[16]
The twining stems of P. heterophylla are often tightly wrapped around host stems and are described as softly woody and flexible.[13] In older plants, the stem is woody towards the base.[15] Each stem is as thick as a quill and shining.[8] This branching climber can reach up to 10 metres tall by climbing up any plant within reach.[15]
Distribution
editP. heterophylla is an indigenous or endemic species of New Zealand, meaning that it is not found anywhere else in the world.[17]
Its presence has been recorded in the North Island, South Island, Three Kings Islands and Stewart Island.[15] It is commonly found across the country in lowland or low montane forest.[9] Its preferred habitat is forest margins and clearings in coastal scrub patches.[10] It has been observed to grow side by side with its close relative Parsonsia capsularis in the Banks Peninsula, where hybrids are sometimes encountered.[13]
Life cycle
editThere is little information available on the timeline and life cycle of this species. This plant flowers from September to March, followed by seed pods from February.[1] Seeds are dispersed then by the wind.[14]
For planting P. heterophylla in gardens, the optimal time to collect seeds is between February and April.[18]
Interactions
editP. heterophylla twine their young stems around other plants in order and grow and climb towards the sunlight.[10]
P. heterophylla is a host plant to a number of invertebrate species, including beetles, wasps, moths, butterflies, grasshoppers and sucking bugs.[19] The larvae of the moth Stigmella kaimanua feed on the leaves of P. heterophylla.[20] It also attracts the rare New Zealand ribbonwood aphid or Paradoxaphis plagianthi.[21] The sweet-scented flowers of P. heterophylla are attractive to night-flying moths.[15]
The nectar of P. heterophylla is eaten by the New Zealand bellbird or korimako.[22]
Further information
editP. heterophylla's current conservation status is not threatened, according to the Department of Conservation.[5]
The flowers of P. heterophylla were historically often bound by Māori to the perches of bird-traps as a lure.[23]
References
edit- ^ a b c Salmon, John T. (1991). Native New Zealand flowering plants. Auckland [N.Z.]: Reed. ISBN 0-7900-0684-7. OCLC 26036266.
- ^ a b c "Parsonsia heterophylla A.Cunn. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ^ Cunningham, A. (1839). "Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand:Apocynaceae". Annals of Natural History. 2: 46.
- ^ a b c Moore, Lucy B. (1978). The Oxford book of New Zealand plants. J. B. Irwin. Wellington [N.Z.]: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-558035-4. OCLC 3844208.
- ^ a b c "Parsonsia heterophylla". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
- ^ Raoul, E.F.L. (1844). "Plantes de la Nouvelle-Zelande". Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Botanique. Série 3. 2: 118.
- ^ Colenso, W (1882). "Description of a few new Indigenous Plants". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 14: 320–339 [331].
- ^ a b Laing, Robert Malcolm; Blackwell, Ellen W. (1949). Plants of New Zealand. Christchurch New Zealand: Whitcombe and Tombs. p. 360.
- ^ a b c d e Smith-Dodsworth, John C. (1991). New Zealand native shrubs and climbers. Auckland, N.Z.: David Bateman. ISBN 1-86953-069-1. OCLC 27264960.
- ^ a b c d e Salmon, John T. (1986). New Zealand flowers and plants in colour. Mural Books. ISBN 0-9597795-0-7. OCLC 33217447.
- ^ "Parsonsia variabilis | International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ^ "Parsonsia capsularis (G.Forst.) R.Br. ex Endl. (synonyms)| Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ a b c d e f Wilson, Hugh D. (2013). Plant life on Banks Peninsula. Cromwell, New Zealand. ISBN 978-0-9583299-6-5. OCLC 861302803.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ a b Martin, William (1961). The flora of New Zealand. Whitcombe and Tombs. OCLC 1191018.
- ^ a b c d e f Eagle, Audrey Lily (1978). Eagle's 100 shrubs & climbers of New Zealand : companion volume to Eagle's 100 trees of New Zealand : botanical paintings & notes. Audrey Lily Eagle. Auckland: Collins. ISBN 0-00-216932-0. OCLC 5727559.
- ^ Cockayne, Leonard (1919). New Zealand plants and their story. By L. Cockayne ... Wellington, N.Z.: M.F. Marks, Govt. Printer. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.12016.
- ^ "Flora of New Zealand | Taxon Profile | Parsonsia heterophylla". nzflora.info. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
- ^ "Calendar for seed collecting - grasses, sedges, lilies, flaxes, epiphytes and climbers". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
- ^ "PlantSynz - Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment tool: Database". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
- ^ "Stigmella kaimanua Donner & Wilkinson, 1989". Nepticulidae and Opostegidae of the world. Naturalis Biodiversity Center. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ Kean, John; Stufkens, Marlon (January 2005). "Phenology, population ecology, and rarity of the New Zealand ribbonwood aphid,Paradoxaphis plagianthi". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 32 (3): 143–153. doi:10.1080/03014223.2005.9518407. ISSN 0301-4223. S2CID 83762940.
- ^ "Food preferences of the bellbird (Anthornis melanura) in native forest remnants on the Port Hills, Banks Peninsula, New Zealand". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
- ^ "Māori Plant Use Database Plant Use Details of Parsonsia heterophylla". maoriplantuse.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
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