Parsonsia heterophylla

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Parsonsia heterophylla
Parsonsia heterophylla 11.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Parsonsia
Species:
P. heterophylla
Binomial name
Parsonsia heterophylla
Parsonsia heterophylla Dist GBIF18.png
Occurrence data from GBIF

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]

Contents

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 list Parsonsia variabilis as a synonym of Parsonsia capsularis.

Description

Flowers of Parsonsia heterophylla Parsonsia heterophylla kz11.jpg
Flowers of Parsonsia heterophylla

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. [12] They appear in many-flowered, fairly compact clusters on the plant. [12] 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. [13] 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]

Long narrow leaf type Parsonsia heterophylla kz8.jpg
Long narrow leaf type

The leaves of P. heterophylla are variable in size and shape, both in all stages of its life. [14] 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. [12] 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". [12] While the leaves of adult plants are usually shorter and broader than in juveniles, they are still variable in shape. [14] The leaf types can narrowly be defined as small round, long narrow and moderately broad and oblong. [15]

Small round leaf type Parsonsia heterophylla in Auckland Botanic Gardens.jpg
Small round leaf type

The twining stems of P. heterophylla are often tightly wrapped around host stems and are described as softly woody and flexible. [12] In older plants, the stem is woody towards the base. [14] 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. [14]

Distribution

P. heterophylla is an indigenous or endemic species of New Zealand, meaning that it is not found anywhere else in the world. [16]

Its presence has been recorded in the North Island, South Island, Three Kings Islands and Stewart Island. [14] 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. [12]

Life cycle

There 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. [13]

If one wants to plant P. heterophylla in their garden, the optimal time to collect seeds is between February and April. [17]

Interactions

P. 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. [18] The larvae of the moth Stigmella kaimanua feed on the leaves of P. heterophylla. [19] It also attracts the rare New Zealand Ribbonwood Aphid or Paradoxaphis plagianthi. [20] The sweet-scented flowers of P. heterophylla are attractive to night-flying moths. [14]

The nectar of P. heterophylla is eaten by the New Zealand Bellbird or Korimako. [21]

Further information

P. 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. [22]

Related Research Articles

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Stigmella kaimanua is a moth of the family Nepticulidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the southern parts of the South Island. S. kaimanua inhabits lowland and lower montane forest. The larvae mine the leaves of Parsonsia heterophylla. The mine is linear and continues down the stems for a short distance. Larvae have been observed April to August. The cocoon is probably attached to the leaf litter on the ground under the host plant. There is one generation per year. Adults are on the wing in November and December and are attracted to light.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Salmon, John T. (1991). Native New Zealand flowering plants. Auckland [N.Z.]: Reed. ISBN   0-7900-0684-7. OCLC   26036266.
  2. 1 2 3 "Parsonsia heterophylla A.Cunn. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  3. ↑ Cunningham, A. (1839). "Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand:Apocynaceae". Annals of Natural History. 2: 46.
  4. 1 2 3 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.
  5. 1 2 3 "Parsonsia heterophylla". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  6. ↑ Raoul, E.F.L. (1844). "Plantes de la Nouvelle-Zelande". Annales des sciences naturelles Botanique, sér. 3. 2: 118.
  7. ↑ Colenso, W (1882). "Description of a few new Indigenous Plants". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 14: 320–339 [331].
  8. 1 2 Laing, Robert Malcolm; Blackwell, Ellen W. (1949). Plants of New Zealand. Christchurch New Zealand: Whitcombe and Tombs. p. 360.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Smith-Dodsworth, John C. (1991). New Zealand native shrubs and climbers. Auckland, N.Z.: David Bateman. ISBN   1-86953-069-1. OCLC   27264960.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Salmon, John T. (1986). New Zealand flowers and plants in colour. Mural Books. ISBN   0-9597795-0-7. OCLC   33217447.
  11. ↑ "Parsonsia variabilis | International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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)
  13. 1 2 Martin, William (1961). The flora of New Zealand. Whitcombe and Tombs. OCLC   1191018.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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.
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ "Flora of New Zealand | Taxon Profile | Parsonsia heterophylla". nzflora.info. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  17. ↑ "Calendar for seed collecting - grasses, sedges, lilies, flaxes, epiphytes and climbers". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  18. ↑ "PlantSynz - Invertebrate herbivore biodiversity assessment tool: Database". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  19. ↑ "Stigmella kaimanua Donner & Wilkinson, 1989". Nepticulidae and Opostegidae of the world. Naturalis Biodiversity Center. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  20. ↑ 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.
  21. ↑ "Food preferences of the bellbird (Anthornis melanura) in native forest remnants on the Port Hills, Banks Peninsula, New Zealand". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  22. ↑ "Māori Plant Use Database Plant Use Details of Parsonsia heterophylla". maoriplantuse.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2021-04-08.

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