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NZ Plants

Parsonsia heterophylla - kaiwhiria, New Zealand jasmine

family: Apocynaceae

  • Upper branch

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  • Leaves, smooth margin

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  • Leaves, wavy margin

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  • Stem with joined leaf bases

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  • Stipules

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  • Stipule detail

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  • Stem,hairs

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  • Leaf upper surface

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  • Leaf, lower surface

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  • Flower arrangement

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  • Flower, side view

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  • Petals removed. Finger-like glands surround the base of the ovary and alternate with stamen stalks (filaments) which converge around the style.

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  • Each filament terminates in an anther with an expanded scale (connective) in the shape of an elongated arrow-head.

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  • Stamen filaments terminate in five anthers which converge around the stigma

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  • Detached anther with two pollen sacs to the inside of the scale

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  • Older flower, petal tube, stamens and style have been shed to expose five greenish glandular sepal scales.

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  • Young fruit

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  • Mature fruit

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  • Seed

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Parsonsia heterophylla is a high climbing vine with sweet-scented blooms.  The highly variable form of  leaves on the protracted juvenile phase can make identification difficult to the inexperienced. Its narrow capsules with plumed seeds are a distinctive feature. A genus of vines with about 130 species  found in Tropical Asia, Australia and with three species endemic to New Zealand. Named after James Parsons (1705-1770) a London physician known for his writings on medicine and natural history.
An endemic species found in lowland and montane open forest throughout the country.
 

Vegetative characteristics

Reproductive characteristics

Plant form: vine

Arrangement of parts: symmetric
 

Flower size: 4-6 mm diam. X 7-10 mm long

Leaf form: undivided, ovate to linear to lobed

Sepals: 5

Leaf size: 5-7 cm

Petals: 5, white to yellow

Leaf arrangement: in opposite pairs

Sexuality: bisexual

Leaf attachment:

Stamens: 5

Leaf margin: smooth to sinuate

Ovary: above petals

Leaf surface: hairless

Fruit: dry pod


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