Kingdom Plantae Family Myrtaceae Rank Species | Order Myrtales Genus Lophomyrtus | |
Similar Lophomyrtus bullata, Lophomyrtus, Pennantia corymbosa, Elaeocarpus hookerianus, Coprosma rhamnoides | ||
Lophomyrtus obcordata, also known as rohutu or tutuhi, is a species of evergreen myrtle shrub in the genus Lophomyrtus, family Myrtaceae. It is found throughout New Zealand, usually in lowland forest and forest edges.
L. obcordata grows to a height of 8 meters (26 ft), producing many branches closely packed together. The leaves are 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) wide by 5–10 mm long, with a very distinctive notch at the end making them heart shaped, There are oil glands on the underside of the leaves.
L. obcordata has white flowers in summer. The berries range in colour from red to dark red to black, are 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) in diameter, and ripen in summer to autumn.
L. obcordata will easily hybridise with L. bullata (ramarama). This has given rise to a number of cultivars with interesting foliage variations that are sold commercially.
Propagation is usually by semi-hardwood cutting, or by seed.
The wood is red coloured, very dense and hard, and has been used for small dimension inlay work.