Aciphylla is a genus of about 40 species of herbaceous plants in the family Apiaceae, all but two of them endemic to New Zealand. They range from small cushion plants to tall flower spikes surrounded by rosettes of stiff, pointed leaves, the latter probably adaptations to prevent browsing by moa. Their common name is speargrass or Spaniard. Most Aciphylla species live in subalpine or alpine habitats in the South Island. Fragrant oil extracted from some large species, known as taramea, is still used as a perfume by Māori.
Dracophyllum is a genus of plants belonging to the family Ericaceae, formerly Epacridaceae. There are 61 species in the genus, mostly shrubs, but also cushion plants and trees, found in New Zealand, Australia, Lord Howe Island and New Caledonia. The name Dracophyllum, meaning dragon-leaf, refers to their strong outward similarity to the unrelated Dracaena, sometimes known as dragon tree. Although dicotyledonous, they resemble primitive monocots with their slender leaves concentrated in clumps at the ends of the branches; they are sometimes called grass-trees.
Muehlenbeckia complexa is a plant commonly known as pohuehue, although this name also applies to some other climbers such as Muehlenbeckia australis.
Aciphylla colensoi is a species of Aciphylla, commonly known as giant speargrass, Spaniard, or its Māori-language name taramea. Individual plants may be up to 90 cm (35 in) in diameter and up to 1 metre high when in flower, and consist of sharp spines, all pointing out from the centre. The leaflets are thick, and have rough margins and red-orange midribs. Yellow flowers may also be present, located on long, narrow, and strong stems. A. colensoi is endemic and can be found in both main islands of New Zealand, typically in altitudes from 900 to 1,500 m.
Olearia hectorii is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae. Its common names include deciduous tree daisy and Hector's tree daisy. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is nationally endangered.
Pittosporum fairchildii, commonly called Fairchild's kohuhu, is a species of plant in the Pittosporaceae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species was first described by Thomas Frederic Cheeseman. It is named in honour of Captain J. Fairchild, a 19th-century seaman who commanded the S.S. Stella.
Alseuosmia is a genus of five species of flowering plants in the family Alseuosmiaceae, growing in New Zealand's North Island. Species members are characteristically small evergreen shrubs. An example occurrence of species representative Alseuosmia macrophylla is in the habitat of the Hamilton Ecological District, where Blechnum discolor and B. filiforme are understory elements with a Nothofagus truncata and Dacrydium cupressinum overstory.
Pachystegia insignis is a species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Elaeocarpus dentatus, commonly known as hinau, is a native lowland forest tree of New Zealand. Other names in Māori for the tree are hangehange, pōkākā, and whīnau.
Myrsine salicina, synonym Rapanea salicina, commonly known as toro, is a species of shrub or small tree native to New Zealand.
Aciphylla aurea, known as taramea in Māori and golden speargrass or golden Spaniard in New Zealand English, is a large, spiky, tufted plant with sharp yellowish-green leaves in the speargrass genus Aciphylla. A. aurea is found throughout the South Island of New Zealand in montane to low alpine habitats.
Ichneutica nullifera is a moth of the family Noctuidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the Tongariro National Park, along the Wellington coast and throughout the South Island. The adults are large and the forewing of adults can vary in colour from pale fawn to dark grey. The larvae are coloured a bright yellow-brown with a paler underside. The larval host species are in the genus Aciphylla and as a result the adult moths are often found in habitat dominated by species in this genus. Adults are on the wing from November to early April and are sometimes attracted to light.
Myosotis monroi is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. The species was described by Thomas Cheeseman. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial and erect, and have ebracteate inflorescences with cream or white corollas.
Lyperobius huttoni is a New Zealand weevil found in alpine areas of the South Island and at sea level around the Wellington coast. It feeds only on speargrass (Aciphylla). Weevils from the endangered Wellington population have been translocated to predator-free Mana Island.
Notoreas elegans is a species of moth in the family Geometridae, endemic to New Zealand. This species has a wide distribution in New Zealand and is therefore regarded as not being in need of conservation.
Carex albula, common name white sedge, is a species of sedge. It is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand.
Carex talbotii, common name Berggren's sedge, is a species of sedge in the family Cyperaceae. It is endemic to New Zealand, being found on both the North and the South Islands.
Carex buchananii, common names Buchanan's sedge, cutty grass, is a species of sedge. It is endemic to New Zealand, being found on both the North and South Islands.
Aciphylla anomala is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It was formally described by botanist Harry Allan in his 1961 work Flora of New Zealand. The type was collected on Mount Peel. The specific epithet is derived from the Ancient Greek anōmalía, meaning "unusual".
