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Northern rata
| Common
name: Northern rata |
Botanical
name: Metrosideros robusta |
| Family: Myrtaceae
(Myrtle family) |
Maximum height: 25
metres |
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Where found:
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- Lowland to lower montane forest
- Up to 900 metres
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| Description: |
- Usually begins life as an epiphyte, finally becoming a tall
tree with a hollow trunk (up to 2.5m in diameter) in place of
the host tree
- Oblong leaves (25-50mm x 15-20mm) are opposite, thick and leathery
with notched leaf tips, branchlets are red and covered in hairs
when young
- Large intense red flowers (similar to pohutukawa flowers)
- Thin bark which flakes off in small rectangular flakes
- A favourite food of the possum
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Click
on image for larger picture
Upper left
PHOTO: Bill Messenger
PHOTO: Peter Winter
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