Meryta latifolia - Broad-leafed Meryta Meryta angustifolia — Narrow-leaved Meryta

As spring is arriving, this week I have written about the lovely Norfolk Island Meryta tree. I have so many lovely photos of the tree in flower I thought it would be a great time of the year to share these images and a chance for me to also learn more about the Norfolk Island endemic plants.

https://norfolkislandnationalpark.gov.au/discover/nature/plants/broad-leafed-meryta/

Broad-leafed meryta | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia

One of Norfolk's plant success stories is the Broad-leafed Meryta, this species is on the road to recovery. In the early 2000s, there were only about 20 female plants left, but with propagation and replanting, the numbers have increased dramatically.

Meryta trees grow up to 4 metres tall with their large leaves forming clumps at the end of a single stem or very few branches.

Broad-leafed Meryta

Scientific name: Meryta latifolia

Conservation status: Critically endangered

Residency status: Endemic

Narrow-leaved Meryta

Scientific name: Meryta angustifolia

Conservation status: Listed as Vulnerable as (Date effective 25-Nov-2003)

Residency status: Endemic

I have been purchasing native trees from the Norfolk Island National Park nursery and this year I learnt that there are broad leafed and narrow leafed Meryta trees. I now have both trees growing in my garden, and I am sure the new plants have welcomed the recent rain, after the summer drought.

The trees have stunning yellow flowers in the spring and early summer, and the bees and insects love them as the flowers are loaded with pollen. After the flowers a seed forms and I have seen chooks up in the trees eating the seeds and this winter I also saw lots of aphids and ants living on the plants as well. I have also been told that the rats also love the seeds and can damage the Meryta plants.

The large green leaves can also be used for cooking, wrapping food inside the leaf before baking or steaming. This is a traditional Māori and Polynesian way of preparing food. Interestingly I have also read that the convicts apparently used the large leaves to wrap up dough to bake in ashes.

Additional information and extracts about the Norfolk Island Broad Leaved Meryta

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meryta_latifolia

Meryta latifolia - Wikipedia

Meryta latifolia, commonly known as broad-leaved Meryta or shade tree, is an evergreen tree endemic to Norfolk Island, Australia, where it occurs in subtropical moist forest conditions.

Description

Meryta latifolia grows as a single-trunked tree reaching 5 to 6 m (16.5 to 19.5 ft) tall. It may have a few branches near the top. Its wood is brittle.

The wide leaves grow to 50–75 cm (19.5–29.5 in) in length by 25–30 cm (10–12 in) across. They are oblanceolate in shape, having a narrowed base and broad, rounded apex.

The female inflorescence grows in a panicle at the end of the branch and is 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long, and densely clustered.

The fruit is round, 5 to 6 mm long, bluntly 5 or 6-ribbed.^[2]

Distribution and status

Meryta latifolia occurs only on Norfolk Island, and is considered critically endangered because it is dioecious, having separate male and female plants. The total number of mature individual plants is less than 150, the effective reproductive population limited by the number of surviving female plants, which number approximately 20. It occurs on ten sites on Norfolk Island, but most of these contain only one or two plants and only one site has more than 13. Although one site contains approximately 115 trees, regeneration is not occurring at this site. Continuing

declines in the number of mature individuals, and number of locations and subpopulations are projected for several reasons including lack of formal protection or management programs, the vulnerability of small populations to stochastic disturbance events (e.g. cyclones), ongoing competition with invasive weeds, predation by rats, senescence of over-mature plants, and sex ratio bias. The species is adapted to moist forest conditions and is therefore susceptible to unfavourable climate change (projected increases in the incidence of drought and extreme rainfall events that cause physical damage).

To learn more about Norfolk Island Native trees and plants, check out this link.

https://norfolkislandnationalpark.gov.au/discover/nature/plants/

Plants | Norfolk Island National Park | Parks Australia

The Norfolk Island group provides an important link between tropical and temperate oceanic island environments.

The islands are home to around 200 native plants, including 46 which are only found here (endemic). Currently, 15 of our plant species are considered critically endangered.

Before European settlement, subtropical rainforest covered almost all of Norfolk Island. Norfolk Island National Park and Botanic Garden now contain most of the island’s remaining natural areas, making them a vital refuge for the island’s native plants and animals.

The magnificent Norfolk Island pine is one of Norfolk’s best known symbols. Common across the island, it can grow as tall as 60 metres. The pine is cultivated as an ornamental tree around the world, while its wood is used for construction, wood turning and crafts. Its seeds are favourite food of the endangered green parrot.

Meryta latifolia (Shade Tree)

Decline in numbers

Since European settlement 80% of the native vegetation on Norfolk Island has been cleared. A significant decline in population numbers is inferred due to the extensive land clearing, unrestricted grazing and significant habitat degradation. There has been widespread establishment of large populations of invasive weed species and high levels of seed predation by rats. Recruitment has been further limited by rats regularly destroying the entire top portion of mature stems preventing flowering. Whilst it is possible that the population decline since European settlement could be as high as 80%, there is, however, a lack of information about generation times and no quantitative data is available for recent rates of decline.

Therefore, the species is not eligible for listing under this criterion.

Geographic distribution

The species is very restricted in its geographic distribution, the extent of occurrence being 3.681km2. The species is considered to be severely fragmented, the total female population being approximately 20 plants. Five of the ten sites contain only one or two plants and only one site has more than 13. Although one site contains approximately 115 individual plants the total reproductive population at all sites is limited to approximately 20 female plants. Continuing declines in the number of mature individuals, number of locations and subpopulations, extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, and quality of habitat are projected for several reasons including: lack of formal protection or management programs, the vulnerability of small populations to stochastic disturbance events (eg cyclones), ongoing competition with invasive weeds, predation by rats, senescence of over-mature plants and sex ratio bias. The species is adapted to moist forest conditions and is therefore susceptible to unfavourable climate change (projected increases in the incidence of drought and extreme rainfall events that cause physical damage).

Therefore, the species is eligible for listing as critically endangered under this criterion.

The above are extract of this internet info about this Norfolk Island endemic plant. Follow this link if you would like to read more of the interesting details about the Norfolk Island Broad Leaf Meryta.

Meryta latifolia (Shade Tree) - DCCEEW

https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/biodiversity/threatened/conservation-advices/meryta-latifolia

I have always enjoyed photographing these lovely trees when they are in flower, which is often in September when the weather warms up in spring. In 2023 I spotted a very large Meryta tree in flower in a property next to the Norfolk Island Fire Station and Pop’s Corner. Here are a few of the lovely Meryta tree flower photos for readers to enjoy

Betty Matthews

5 September 2025