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Pohutukawa, NZ
Christmas tree
Common
name: Pohutukawa,
NZ Christmas tree |
Botanical
name: Metrosideros excelsa |
| Family: Myrtaceae
(Myrtle family) |
Maximum height: 15
metres |
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| Where found: |
- Coastal
- Tolerates poor free draining soils such as coastal cliffs
- Occurs naturally in Taranaki from near Wai-iti northwards
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| Description: |
- When young it is bushy and tight to the ground, and it may persist
in this form, up to about 7 m high, for a long time before developing
the large spreading branches that are typical of the mature older
trees.
- The paired leaves on short petioles are arranged in four rows
on the stem. The leaves are up to 10 cm long by 5 cm wide, varying
in shape from elliptic to oblong. Fairly thick and leathery when
mature, they are softer and more pliable when young, glossy above
and covered by a dense white tomentum (hair) below, as are the
young branchlets and petioles. The leaves of young plants are
hairless.
- Crimson to brilliant red flowers from December to January. In
its young form the tree will flower profusely and set seed. The
infloresences (flower clusters) are in pairs at the tips of the
branchlets. The many flowers have pedicels, penducles and calyces
clothed with a dense white tomentum. Although it is the red stamens
which are the conspicuous part of the flower they also have small
red petals, tomentose sepals and a nectar cup surrounding the
style..
- Bark-rough on older trees
- Birds feed on nectar from the flower cups.
- Tolerant of wind/salt. Environmental
Tolerances - key
- Palatable to possums.
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Click
on image for larger picture
PHOTO: Bill Messenger
PHOTO: DOC
PHOTO: Bill Messenger
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