Masiratu  (Degeneria vitiensis)

Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).

The masiratu is a large, tropical canopy tree belonging to an ancient family of flowering plants closely related to the magnolias (2). Indeed, the glossy, light green leaves are magnolia-like in appearance with a simple leaf shape and alternate arrangement on the stem (2) (3). Its primitive, off-white flowers are four to eight centimeters across, and contain a single carpel and numerous leaf-like stamens, some of which are sterile (staminodes) and covered with a bright-yellow, oily fluid (2) (3) (4). The fruit are kidney-shaped, about six to twelve centimetres long, and contain numerous red or orange seeds embedded in a spongy pulp (2). Upon ripening, the fruit opens like an oyster, exposing the seeds which dangle from short stalks (3).

The masiratu is endemic to the Fijian islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and Taveuni (1).

This species occurs in moist tropical forest (3).

Although the reproductive biology of the masiratu has been poorly studied, both its pollination and seed dispersal strategies appear to exploit animal relationships. Its flowers, which open at night, are visited by a beetle which feeds on pollen and the sticky fluid produced by the staminodes. In doing so, there is a strong probability that it transfers pollen from one flower to the stigma of another, thereby pollinating the plant (2) (3) (4). Further along the cycle of reproduction, native pigeons, parrots and fruit doves frequently eat the fruit of the masiratu. While a bird may destroy some of the seeds in the process, some seeds are scarified as they pass through the digestive tract of the bird, likely assisting in the seeds’ germination (2) (3).

The masiratu is considered vulnerable to extinction as it only occurs in small and scattered populations over a restricted range (1). While the individual trees and stands of this species are too sporadic to be actively sought (2), clearance of trees for agriculture presents one of the biggest threats to the forests of Fiji (5).

While there are currently no known conservation strategies in place for the masiratu, approximately 68 square kilometres of moist forest is protected in Fiji (5). The distribution of the masiratu within Fiji’s protected areas is not well documented but it is certainly known from at least one nature reserve, the Garrick Memorial Reserve on Viti Levu. This 400 hectare reserve is one of the most important areas for the protection of tropical moist rainforest in Fiji but currently receives very little management (6) (7).

For further information on forest conservation see:

• Global Canopy Programme:
  www.globalcanopy.org