Myoporum tenuifolium

Myoporum tenuifolium is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and it is endemic to New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands. It can be distinguished from Myoporum crassifolium, (the only other member of the genus to occur in New Caledonia) by its very thin leaves and its glabrous flowers.

Myoporum tenuifolium
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Myoporum
Species:
M. tenuifolium
Binomial name
Myoporum tenuifolium
Synonyms[1]
  • Citharexylum perforatum G.Forst.
  • Citharexylum tenuifolium G.Forst.
  • Myoporum acuminatum R.Br.

Description

Myoporum tenuifolium is an erect shrub usually growing to a height of 10 metres (30 ft) which has flattened branches. Its leaves are arranged alternately and are usually 50–70 millimetres (2–3 in) long, 9–16 millimetres (0.4–0.6 in) wide with a stalk about 3–10 millimetres (0.1–0.4 in) long. They are unusually thin, elliptic in shape and have a distinct mid-vein on the lower surface.[2]

The flowers are borne in groups of 1 to 4 in the axils of leaves on a flattened stalk 6–12.5 millimetres (0.2–0.5 in) long. The flowers have 5 triangular sepals and 5 petals, joined at their bases to form a bell-shaped tube. The petals are white and the tube is 2–4.5 millimetres (0.08–0.2 in) long with the lobes slightly shorter than the tube. The tube and its lobes are glabrous and there are 4 stamens which extend slightly beyond it. The fruit is a reddish to brown drupe that is oval shaped and about 3.5–7 millimetres (0.1–0.3 in) long.[2]

Taxonomy and naming

Myoporum tenuifolium was first formally described in 1786 by Georg Forster in Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus in 1810.[3][4] The specific epithet (tenuifolium) is derived from Latin tenuis, "slender" and folium, "leaf".[5]

Distribution and habitat

Myoporum tenuifolium is found on Grande Terre, the main island of New Caledonia and on Maré Island and Ouvéa in the Loyalty Island group. It grows in scrub and forest, often on steep hillsides.[2]

Ecology

This species has become naturalised on the southern coast of South Africa.[6]

Use in horticulture

Myoporum tenuifolium is a common garden plant in eastern Spain.[7]

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References
  1. "Myoporum tenuifolium G.Forst". The Plant List. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  2. Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 103–105. ISBN 9781877058165.
  3. "Myoporum tenuifolium". APNI. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  4. Forster, Georg (1786). Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus. Göttingen. p. 44. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  5. Backer, C.A. (1936). Verklarend woordenboek der wetenschappelijke namen van de in Nederland en Nederlandsch-Indië in het wild groeiende en in tuinen en parken gekweekte varens en hoogere planten (Edition Nicoline van der Sijs).
  6. "Myoporum tenuifolium". Biodiversity Explorer - The Web of Life in Southern Africa. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  7. Tomas, F.; Ferreres, F.; Barberan, F. A. T.; Nieto, J. L. (May 1985). "Flavonoid Diglycosides from Myoporum tenuifolium". Journal of Natural Products. 48 (3): 506–507. doi:10.1021/np50039a038.
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