Myrsine longifolia Nadeaud

Myrsine longifolia Nadeaud

Myrsine longifolia Nadeaud, Enum. Pl. Tahiti 61, 1873.

Rapanea longifolia (Nadeaud) Mez, Pflr. 9(236):373, 1902.

Described from and endemic to Tahiti.

Rapanea longifolia (Nadeaud) Mez

Myrsine longifolia Nadeaud, Enum. Pl. Tahiti 61. 1873; Journ. de Bot. 11:109. 1897; Journ. de Bot. 13:3. 1899.

Myrsine tahitensis var. longifolia Drake del Castillo, Ill. Fl. Ins. Pac. 7:227. 1892; Fl. Polyn. Franc. 118. 1892.

Rapanea longifolia (Nadeaud) Mez, in Das. Pflanz. 9:366. 1902.

DESCRIPTION (based on Grant 4266, the phrases in quotation marks from Nadeaud's and Mez's descriptions).—Unbranched “or few-branched” small tree or shrub, “2–8 m. high, 5–8 cm. in diamter,” with 1 terminal tuft of leaves “or several superimposed,” glabrous, “dioecious.” Wood finegrained, light brown, specific gravity 0.77. Twigs 1 cm in diameter. Leaves oblanceolate “lanceolate or elliptical,” 35–45 × 8–11 cm “25–50 × 7–12 cm.,” narrowed to a rounded base, acutish, pergameneous, prominently veined, minutely punctulate, subsessile on a 3 mm petiole, “petiole elongated.” Umbels borne below the leaves, “sometimes between the whorls, peduncles 2–5-branched, 1–5-flowered, pedicels 1 cm. long.” “Female flowers 3–4 mm. long, greenish-white; sepals very short; 4 rudimentary stamens; stigma large, elongated, 5-angled. Male flowers larger, white; stamens 4, short, with large anthers; ovary rudimentary.” Drupe globose, 13 mm in diameter “pyriform, 13 × 9 mm,” fleshy, “green when young,” red at maturity, very sparingly punctulate, “channelled when dry.” Pyrene 7–8 × 8 mm, 1–(“1–2”) seeded.

TYPE.—Collected by Nadeaud in 1859 in Tahiti.

RANGE.—Society Islands: Tahiti: Lépine in 1847 (P, fide Drake del Castillo); Ribourt 51 and 68 (or 66?), circa 1850 (P, fide Drake del Castillo); Nadeaud 401, Paea, Orofere Valley, foot of Mt. Mapuhi, alt. 1000 m, 10 May 1859, and Tearapau above Mamano, August 1896, fruit (G, fide Mez); Grant 4266, Papenoo, Mt. Orofena, alt. 710 m (2325 ft), in Cyathea forest, 23 September 1930, fruit, wood specimen (BISH).

Nadeaud cites two other localities, but we do not know whether specimens were preserved: Pare, Mt. Ereereaoe, alt. 1100 m, May 1896, fruit; Mahaena, Puaa, alt. 850 m, 14 February 1898, flower.

Myrsine longifolia is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to the island of Tahiti in the Society Islands of French Polynesia.