| Griselinia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Griselinia littoralis foliage and flowers | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Griseliniaceae Takht.[1] |
| Genus: | Griselinia G.Forst. |
| Type species | |
| Griselinia lucida J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.[2] | |
| Species | |
Griselinia carlomunozii | |
Griselinia is agenus of sevenspecies ofshrubs andtrees, with a highly disjunct distributionnative to New Zealand and South America. It is a classic example of theAntarctic flora. It is the sole genus in thefamily Griseliniaceae. In the past it was often placed inCornaceae, but differs from that in many features.
Smalldioecious trees or shrubs up to 20 metres (66 feet) with upright branches, or shrubs up to 2 m with climbing or scandent branches. Theleaves areevergreen, thick and leathery, smooth and glossy above, often paler below. Theflowers are very small, with five sepals and stamens and a single stigma, borne on terminal or axillary racemes or panicles. Petals are 2–3 mm long. However, the female flower ofG.lucida has no petals. Thefruit is a small red or purple ovalberry 5–10 mm long.[3]
Petroselinic acid occurs as the major fatty acid in the species, indicating a relationship to theApiaceae and theAraliaceae.[4] Recent genetic evidence from theAngiosperm Phylogeny Group has shown thatGriselinia is correctly placed in theApiales.[5]
The two New Zealand species are large shrubs or trees, from 4–20 m (13–66 ft) tall. Both trees can beepiphytic orhemiepiphytic. The young tree often colonizes amongst otherepiphytes likeCollospermum andAstelia high in the forest canopy, before growing aerial roots down the trunk of its host. Upon contact with the ground, the roots can become large – up to 25 cm (10 in) thick, and are easily identified for their heavy lengthwise corrugations.G. lucida rarely becomes a freestanding tree if having begun life epiphytically, and can often be seen to have collapsed where the host has died. Epiphytic growth inG. littoralis is less common, but does occur in wetter climates.
The vernacular names are ofMāori origin.
The five South American species are smaller shrubs, 1–5 m tall. All are known asYelmo.
