Mouse-eared Myoporum
Myoporum laetum
NEMBA category
English: Mouse-eared Myoporum, Myoporum, New Zealand Manatoka, Mouse-eared Myoporum, Mousehole Tree, Coast Myoporum, Clear-leaf Myoporum
Afrikaans: Muisoormmioporum
Māori: Ngaio
Misapplied or old scientific names: Myoporum crystallinum, Myoporum perforatum, Myoporum pubescens
Myoporum laetum, also known as Mouse-eared Myoporum, is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy, bright green leaves that if you hold them up to the light, you'll see tiny, almost invisible, translucent dots.
It produces small, white, often purple-spotted flowers that develop into abundant, shiny red or purplish berries, making it look quite attractive. However, despite its appealing looks and hardiness, this plant is a serious alien invasive in South Africa, especially along the coast, and is dangerously toxic to livestock.
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Origin:
Native to New Zealand.
Distinguishing features:
Translucent dots in leaves: Its glossy, bright green leaves have numerous tiny, clear, pin-prick-like dots that are visible when held up to light.
Glossy, bright green foliage: Leaves are generally shiny and a vibrant green.
White flowers with purple spots: Small, bell-shaped white flowers often have distinctive purple or reddish spots on the petals.
Bright red/purple berries: Produces abundant, small, fleshy, juicy berries that ripen to a shiny red or dark purple colour.
Overall appearance:
A fast-growing, dense, evergreen shrub or small tree with a bushy habit. It has an attractive, neat appearance due to its glossy foliage and abundant berries.
Height:
Typically grows to between 2 and 10 metres tall, depending on conditions and whether it's grown as a shrub or small tree.
Width:
Can spread 2 to 6 metres wide, often forming dense thickets.
Leaves:
Simple, alternate, lance-shaped to elliptical, with a pointed tip and sometimes slightly toothed margins towards the apex. They are glossy, bright green on both sides, and measure about 4 to 10 centimetres long and 1 to 3 centimetres wide. The most distinctive feature is the presence of numerous small, translucent glandular dots that are clearly visible when the leaf is held against a strong light source.
Flowers:
Small (about 5-8 millimetres in diameter), bell-shaped, and typically white, often with distinctive purple or reddish spots on the inside of the petals. They are borne in small clusters (cymes) of 2 to 6 flowers in the leaf axils. The plant is hermaphroditic, with both male and female parts in each flower.
Flowering season:
In South Africa, it primarily flowers during spring to early summer, generally from August to December, but sporadic flowering can occur at other times of the year.
Fruits:
Small (about 5-9 millimetres in diameter), round to egg-shaped, fleshy drupes (like small cherries). They ripen from green to a shiny bright red or purplish-black. Each fruit contains a single hard seed. These berries are highly attractive to birds.
Seeds:
A single, small, hard, oval, light brown seed is contained within the fleshy fruit. Seeds are primarily dispersed by birds that consume the berries.
Bark:
On young stems, the bark is smooth and greenish-brown. On older stems and trunks, it becomes greyish-brown and can be somewhat rough, with shallow fissures or a slightly scaly texture.
Thorns:
This species does not have thorns.
Wood:
The wood is relatively soft and brittle.
Roots:
Develops a fibrous and spreading root system. It is robust and can form dense root mats that help to stabilise soil, especially in sandy coastal environments.
Soil type:
Highly adaptable and can tolerate a wide range of well-drained soils, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It is particularly tolerant of coastal conditions, including salt spray, and is very drought-tolerant once established.
Aspect:
Prefers full sun for optimal growth and flowering. It can tolerate some partial shade but will be less dense and flower less prolifically. It is highly tolerant of wind, heat, and coastal exposure.
Ediblity:
NOT EDIBLE for humans. All parts of the plant, especially the leaves, are highly toxic.
Toxicity:
HIGHLY TOXIC to livestock, particularly cattle, sheep, and pigs, and can be dangerous to other mammals if ingested. The leaves contain toxic compounds called myoporumone and other furanosesquiterpenoid ketones. Ingestion can cause severe liver and lung damage, leading to symptoms such as jaundice, liver failure, fluid accumulation (oedema), and rapid death. While birds can consume the berries and disperse the seeds, the plant poses a significant poisoning risk to grazing animals.
Uses:
Widely cultivated globally as an ornamental shrub, hedge, or windbreak, particularly valued in coastal regions due to its exceptional tolerance to salt spray and strong winds. Its dense growth makes it suitable for screening and erosion control.
Ecology:
As an alien invasive plant in South Africa, Myoporum laetum is a highly aggressive invader, particularly in coastal areas and disturbed sites. It produces abundant viable seeds that are effectively dispersed by birds. It also has a strong ability to reproduce vegetatively, with broken branches easily rooting in moist soil. It forms dense, impenetrable thickets that outcompete and displace indigenous coastal vegetation, thereby reducing local biodiversity and altering ecosystem structure. Its toxicity to livestock is a major concern in grazing areas.
Distribution and habitat:
Widely cultivated in gardens and used for landscaping, especially in coastal towns throughout South Africa. It has become extensively naturalised and invasive in several provinces, including the Western Cape, Eastern Cape (very common along the coast, roadsides, and disturbed areas around Kenton-on-Sea, often forming dense thickets in dune systems and forest margins), KwaZulu-Natal, and to a lesser extent in other warmer, frost-free regions. It invades coastal dunes, rocky outcrops, forest margins, roadsides, and riparian zones.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Myoporum comes from the Greek words 'myo' (meaning "to close," referring to the valves of the fruit or possibly the pore-like glands) and 'poros' (meaning "pore" or "opening," referring to the translucent dots/glands in the leaves).
The species epithet laetum is Latin for "bright," "pleasing," or "handsome," referring to its attractive overall appearance.
The common name "Mouse-eared Myoporum" refers to the shape of its leaves, somewhat resembling a mouse's ear.
Historical aspects:
Myoporum laetum was introduced to South Africa and many other parts of the world as an ornamental plant in the 19th or early 20th century, particularly valued for its hardiness, salt tolerance, and fast growth, making it ideal for coastal gardens and windbreaks. However, its prolific seeding and effective dispersal mechanisms, coupled with its ability to form dense stands and its toxicity to livestock, led to its recognition as a serious invasive species, necessitating control measures.
Plant family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family - it was previously classified in the Myoporaceae family, but this has been reclassified into the broader Scrophulariaceae family).
Interesting facts:
If you hold one of its glossy green leaves up to the light, you'll see tiny, almost invisible clear dots all over it – like a secret code embedded in the leaf!
Don't let its pretty looks fool you! While its bright red berries are loved by birds, the leaves are super toxic to animals like cattle and sheep, causing serious illness.
This plant is a true coastal champion! It can handle strong winds and even salty sea spray without a problem, which is why it was often planted near the beach.
Because its fruits are so juicy and appealing to birds, they're like little nature taxis, carrying the plant's seeds far and wide to new locations!
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