Phil Bendle Collection:Melicope simplex x ternata (Hybrid)

Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Melicope
2 Species: Melicope simplex and Melicope ternata
Hybrid binomial name: Melicope simplex x ternata
Synonyms: Melicope mantelli

New Zealand's two species of Melicope, Melicope simplex and Melicope ternata naturally hybridises in the wild. This natural hybrid use to be called Melicope mantelli by is now correctly called Melicope simplex x ternata. These two closely related Melicope look completely different than each other and when hybridising can produce a range of variants.
This loose entity consists of a spectrum of forms, some resembling Melicope ternata more closely, while others are very close to typical Melicope simplex.

The photos below are of a tree growing at Otari Wilton Bush Reserve[1]  

[2]

[3]

Leaf shapes.
[4] 

Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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