Hoheria Cunn. (1839), in the family Malvaceae, contains 5 species in New Zealand. Description Trees to 10m or more, and shrubs, with fibrous bark. The leaves are alternate, evergreen or deciduous, triangular to ovate, toothed; the juvenile leaves are smaller and especially deeply lobed. The flowers are produced in clusters and singly in the upper leaf axils. Sepals 5, fused at the base into a calyx; petals 5, thin, white, rounded or notched at apex. Stamens numerous, fused into a column at the base, the filaments grouped above into 5 bundles, with small anthers. Carpels 5–15, each with 1 ovule, surrounding a central axis; styles with 5–15 branches. Pollination is by insects. The seed heads split into dry, often winged, 1-seeded segments. Key Recognition Features The genus Hoheria is recognised by its numerous white flowers among the leaves, produced in mid- to late summer. Plagianthus Forster & Forster, with 2 species in New Zealand, is similar but has smaller, greenish flowers, each with
1 carpel. Evolution and Relationships The Malvaceae has much in common with the Tiliaceae, but is a mainly herbaceous family, containing familiar plants such as okra (Abelmoschus Medik.) and mallow (Malva). Most species have sepal-like bracts, called an epicalyx, just beneath the sepals. These are absent in Hoheria, suggesting that it is a primitive genus in the family. Ecology and Geography Found on the edges of forest and in open areas by streams throughout New Zealand. Comment Most species and some hybrids, such as ‘Glory of Amlwch’, are cultivated in gardens in areas with mild winters. In colder areas the shrubs need protection from freezing wind. |
