Myrsine divaricata (Cunningham, 1838b)

Pole, Mike, 2022, A vanished ecosystem: Sophora microphylla (Kōwhai) dominated forest recorded in mid-late Holocene rock shelters in Central Otago, New Zealand, Palaeontologia Electronica (a 1) 25 (1), pp. 1-41 : 16

Myrsine divaricata (Cunningham, 1838b)

Figure 16

Material. Present in 33% of the shelters with dry vegetation. Shelter-003: LX5415; LX5418, LX5395, LX5397; Shelter-005: LX5402, LX5405; Shelter-006: LX5555, LX5563; Shelter-012: LX3142, LX3143, SL 6718; Shelter-017: SL 6604; Shelter-018: LX3009; Shelter-022: SL 6594; Shelter-023: SL 6610; Shelter-027: SL 6464, SL 6465; Shelter-029: LX5810; Shelter-030: LX2470, LX2472, LX2474; Shelter-032: LX2913, LX2914, LX2918, LX2919; Shelter-036: LX2974, LX2976; Shelter-042: LX2600; Shelter-050: LX2557, LX2592; Shelter-056: SL 6430, SL 6432; Shelter-064: SL 6509; Shelter-068: SL 6479; Shelter-070: LX2613; Shelter-077: LX2553; Shelter-078: SL 6474; Shelter-082: LX2437; Shelter-083: LX2452; Shelter-085: LX3281; Shelter-088: LX3320; Shelter-089: LX3357, SL 6447; Shelter-090: LX3268, LX3269; Shelter-092: LX2894, LX3001; Shelter-094: LX3004; Shelter-095: LX2885; Shelter-098: LX3024; Shelter-099: LX3029; Shelter-103: LX2515, LX2519, LX2522; Shelter-111: LX5504; Shelter-113: LX5517, LX5520; Shelter-114: LX5657, LX5658.

Remarks. The cuticle is easily recognized on the basis of the typically anisocytic stomatal complexes and sinuous epidermal cell walls. Most fragments will also include peltate trichomes. The nonstomatal leaf surface has a characteristic flowing ornamentation of fine flowing ridges. Intact leaves show a row of prominent glands along the apical margin. This is regarded as the divaricating dryland species M. divaricata .

Figures

FIGURE 16. Myrsine divaricata cuticle morphology (Transmitted light microscopy). A. Margin of a leaf showing dark glandular structures, situated just inside the margin, and veins, projecting from below (LX2515, Shelter-103, scale bar equals 1 mm). B. Typical abaxial surface cuticle showing scattered stomatal complexes and the stem of a peltate trichome (the cap has detached) at right (LX2557, Shelter-50, scale bar equals 100 μm). C. Detail showing an intact peltate trichome at left and two stomatal complexes at right. Note the highly sinuous margins of the epidermal and subsidiary cells (LX2789, Coprolite-21, scale bar equals 40 μm). D. Typical non-stomatal (adaxial) surface showing the distinctive ridged ornamentation and obscured outlines of the epidermal cells (LX2811 Shelter-96, scale bar equals 40 μm).