Metrosideros collina (J. R. Forst. & G. Forst.) A. Gray, Myrtaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate, score: 3 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Leptospermum collinum J. R. Forst. & G. Forst; Melaleuca villosa L. f.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Polynesian Metrosideros, vunga

Fijian: sekula, vunga, vunga leka, vunga ndina, vunga tangane, vunga tawa

Maori (Cook Islands): rata

Tahitian: hena, puarata

Habit:  tree

Description:  "As seen if Fiji this complex species consists of trees or shrubs 1-20 m high, variable as to the indument of vegetative and inflorescence parts, the branchlets subterete to subquadrangular; petioles (2-) 4-12 mm long; leaf blades often coriaceous and copiously glandular-punctate, elliptic-lanceolate to oblong- or obovate-elliptic, (2.5-) 4-8.5 x (0.8-) 1.5-6 cm; conflorescences with 3-5 pairs of uniflorescences with peduncles 3-20 mm long, the flower-enclosing scales about 6, to 6 mm long and broad; flowers sessile or with anthopodium to 4 mm (at anthesis) or 6 mm (in fruit) long, the lateral flowers subtended by suborbicular bracts to 4 mm long, the bracteoles to 2 mm long; hypanthium cupuliform-obconical, 1.5-3 mm long, 2-4 mm in distal diameter, extending 1-2 mm beyond ovary, the sepals 5 (or 6), to 2 x 3 mm; petals 5 (or 6), obovate to suborbicular, to 4 mm long and broad; stamens 20-24 (-30), the filaments at anthesis 12-20 mm long; style 13-30 mm long; hypanthium in fruit subrotate, 5-7 mm in diameter at rim, the free part of capsule triquetrous-subglobose, (3-) 5-8 mm in diameter, conspicuously extending beyond level of hypanthial rim"  (Smith, 1985; p. 294; see this reference for a key to the varieties).

Habitat/ecology:  In Fiji, "found from near sea level upward to about 1,120 m in sometimes dense forest and in swampy places; it is comparatively infrequent at lower elevations" (var. collina); "occurring at elevations from near sea level to 1,200 m in forest and open swamps, on open hillsides, and in the thickets of crests and ridges" (var. villosa); "occurring in sometimes dense forest at elevations of 50-925 m" (var. fruticosa)  (Smith, 1985; pp. 294-297).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "New Hebrides [Vanuatu] eastward to the Marquesas and Tuamotu Islands [French Polynesia]"  (Smith, 1985; p. 294).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1979) (p. 272)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	native	Whistler, W. A. (1990) (p. 396)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kandavu Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 295-296) Vouchers cited: Smith 67, DA 11932 (DF 12) (var. villosa); DF 1021 (var. collina)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Lakemba Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 295-296) Vouchers cited: Seemann 169 (var. villosa); Seemann 169 (var. collina)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Matuku Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 296) Voucher cited: Milne 109 (var. collina)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Ovalau Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 295-297) Vouchers cited: Smith 7587 (var. villosa); Gillespie 4470 (var. collina); Smith 7626 (var. fruticosa)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 295-296) Vouchers cited: Smith 860 (var. villosa); Smith 853 (var. collina)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 295-296) Vouchers cited: DA 15140, DA 12820, Smith 6542, Smith 682 (var. villosa); Smith 1651, Smith 1853, DA L.24155, DA 15734, Smith 1993 (var. collina)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Mbalavu Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 295) Voucher cited: Garnock-Jones 1144 (var. villosa)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 295-297) Vouchers cited: Smith 4414, Tothill 160A, DA 13397, DF 1102, DA 2189, DA L.13281 (Berry 70), DA 17372, H.B.R. Parham 22, Tothill 160C (var villosa); Greenwood 295, Parks 20656, Degener 14495, DA 2335, Smith 5330, Horne 935, DF 1102, DA 9173 (McKee 2737), Gillespie 2785, Gillespie 3282, Degener 15459, parks 20431, Milne 54, Vaughan 3461 (var. collina); Greenwood 294, DA 14446, Gibbs 545, Gibbs 879, Gibbs im Thurn 129, Degener 14425, DF 831, DA L.13280 (Berry 15), Seemann 170, Seemann 171, Gillespie 2526, Degener 15458, DA 3404, DF 229 (Bola 78), DA 2672 (var. fruticosa)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Yasawas Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 295) Voucher cited: St. John 18156 (var. villosa)
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	native	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	native	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	native	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Tahuata (Tuhuata) Island	native	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	native	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	native	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rapa Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands	native	Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 49) Voucher cited: Beechey s.n.
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)	native	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 294)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Metrosideros collina, please let us know.