Myrsine cheesemanii (Hemsl. ex Mez) Fosberg & Sachet

Myrsine cheesemanii (Mez) Fosberg & Sachet

Rapanea cheesemanii Mez, Pflr. 9(236):371, 1902.

Mez cited a herbarium name by Hemsley in Myrsine as a synonym of his Rapanea cheesemanii and treated the latter name as a combination by himself. Since it was published in synonymy only, M. cheesemanii Hemsley is not valid and the epithet dates only from Mez publication. As we are treating these as Myrsine, the above combination is necessary and dates from the present publication.

The species seems closest to M. collina Nadeaud, or to M. falcata Nadeaud, of Tahiti. The available material is neither very adequate nor very uniform, so no amplification of the description will be attempted here. It is probable that two species are confused in the material cited. We have not seen the type.

SPECIMENS SEEN.—Cook Islands: Rarotonga: s.l. Parks and Parks 22329a (US), 22340 (US, BISH); Avana stream, 900–1100 ft [275–335m], Wilder 774 (BISH, US, part). Rarotonga was incorrectly considered by Mez as a part of New Zealand.

Myrsine cheesemanii, known as the Cook Islands myrsine or ka‘ika makatea (in Mangaia), is a species of shrub within the family Myrsinaceae. It is endemic to the Cook Islands, growing on the islands of Rarotonga, Mangaia, Mauke and Mitiaro.