Dracophyllum elegantissimum

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Dracophyllum elegantissimum
Dracophyllum elegantissimum MRD.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Dracophyllum
Species:
D. elegantissimum
Binomial name
Dracophyllum elegantissimum
S.Venter [1]

Dracophyllum elegantissimum, commonly known as grass tree or slender dragon tree, is a flowering plant in the family Ericaceae . Endemic to New Zealand, it is found in the north of the South Island, in north-west Nelson. [2] [3]

Contents

Description

Dracophyllum elegantissimum is a single-stemmed tree which grows to a height of 5–14 m (16–46 ft). Its branches have flaky light brown bark with leaves concentrated in tufts similar to that of plants in the family Bromeliaceae, together forming a candelabra-shaped crown. The light green 33–100 by 1–3.2 cm (12.99–39.37 by 0.39–1.26 in) leaves are leathery and sheathed in 22–58 by 13–43 mm (0.87–2.28 by 0.51–1.69 in) light brown sheathes. Glabrous and very finely toothed, such that there are 12–24 teeth every 10mm, the leaves are also curled. It flowers from December until February, producing 600–1000 or more flowers on a pyramid-shaped 19–32 cm (7.5–12.6 in) long inflorescence. [4] [5] Fruiting occurs from February to March, yielding yellow-brown 0.7–0.8 millimetres (0.028–0.031 in) long filiform seeds. [1]

D. elegantissimum is very similar to D. traversii, but differs most clearly from the latter by its long, thin leaves which are curled at the ends. It also has smaller nectary scales and ovaries as well as longer inflorescence bracts, however. It is also allied to D. latifolium, but can be identified by its longer inflorescence bracts, corolla lobes which are shorter than the corolla tubes, as well as smaller nectary scales and ovaries. [2]

Distribution and habitat

D. elegantissimum is endemic to New Zealand and is found only in north-west Nelson in lowland to upper montane forests. They are almost always found on 5–45˚ south-west to north-west facing slopes. [2]

Taxonomy

Discovery and naming

It was first described in 2004 by Stephanus Venter in the New Zealand Journal of Botany . It was first collected, however, 36 years earlier in 1968 by A. P. Druce who identified it as Dracophyllum traversii . The specimen was collected from Moa Park in Abel Tasman National Park and its differences were discovered later, during a separate study on D. traversii. [1]

Etymology

Dracophyllum means dragon leaf which comes from its similarity to the dragon tree. [2] It gets the Specific epithet elegantissimum, Latin for elegant, due to the graceful way in which the canopy forms and its long, narrow leaves. [5] [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Dracophyllum</i> Genus of flowering plants

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.

<i>Allotropa</i> Genus of flowering plants in the heath family Ericaceae

Allotropa virgata is in the family Ericaceae and is the only species of the genus Allotropa. It is a perennial plant that gets its common names from the distinct white and red or maroon stripes along its erect peduncle. A. virgata are nongreen as they lack chlorophyll, instead obtaining nutrition from neighboring green plants through a fungal intermediate.

<i>Archeria</i> (plant) Genus of plants

Archeria is a small genus of shrubs in the family Ericaceae. As currently circumscribed the group includes six species, all native to southern Australasia. Four of these are endemic to Tasmania, and the other two endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Archeria traversii</i> Species of flowering plant

Archeria traversii is a species of shrub in the family Ericaceae.

<i>Dracophyllum milliganii</i> Species of flowering plant

Dracophyllum milliganii is a species of angiosperm in the family Ericaceae and the sub-family Epacridoideae. It is a distinctive alpine shrub, endemic to western Tasmania.

<i>Archeria racemosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Archeria racemosa is a species of shrub in the family Ericaceae.

<i>Dracophyllum longifolium</i> Species of flowering plant

Dracophyllum longifolium, commonly called inaka, is an upright shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae that is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Pseudowintera traversii</i> Species of flowering plant

Pseudowintera traversii, sometimes called Travers horopito, is a species of woody shrub in the family Winteraceae. The specific epithet traversii is in honor of naturalist Henry H. Travers (1844–1928), son of William Thomas Locke Travers.

<i>Dracophyllum arboreum</i> Species of tree in the heath family from the Chatham Islands

Dracophyllum arboreum, commonly known as Chatham Island grass tree and tarahinau (Moriori), is a species of tree in the heath family Ericaceae. Endemic to the Chatham Islands of New Zealand, it reaches a height of 18 m (60 ft) and has leaves that differ between the juvenile and adult forms.

<i>Dracophyllum traversii</i> Species of tree (mountain neinei)

Dracophyllum traversii, commonly known as mountain neinei, grass tree, and pineapple tree is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae. It is a deciduous tree endemic to New Zealand. It reaches a height of 0.2–13 m (0.66–42.65 ft) and has leaves which form tufts at the end of its branches. It has a lifespan of between 500 and 600 years.

<i>Dracophyllum ophioliticum</i> Species of shrub

Dracophyllum ophioliticum, commonly known as asbestos inaka and asbestos turpentine tree, is a species of shrub in the family Ericaceae. Endemic to New Zealand, it grows into a sprawling shrub, reaching heights of just 30–200 cm (10–80 in), and has leaves which form bunches at the end of its branches.

<i>Dracophyllum muscoides</i> Species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae

Dracophyllum muscoides, commonly known as cushion inaka, is a small cushion plant in the family Ericaceae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found only in the South Island in sub-alpine regions.

<i>Dracophyllum menziesii</i> Species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae

Dracophyllum menziesii, commonly known as pineapple scrub, is a species of shrub endemic to the South and Stewart Islands of New Zealand. In the heath family Ericaceae, it inhabits mountain slopes and cliffs from sea level up to 1,500 m (4,921 ft) and reaches a height of 0.5–1 m (1.6–3.3 ft). A 2017 assessment using the New Zealand Threat Classification System classified it as "Not Threatened," giving it an estimated population upwards of 100,000.

<i>Dracophyllum fiordense</i> Species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae

Dracophyllum fiordense, commonly known as the Fiordland grass tree, is a species of tree or shrub in the heath family, Ericaceae. It is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. It reaches a height of 1.5–5.0 metres and has tufts of long green leaves at the ends of its branches. Each leaf has a distinctive curled spiral tip. D. fiordense has a pyramid-shaped inflorescence hidden under each clump of leaves, with between 113 and 120 pink flowers on each spike, and later reddish-brown dry fruit; both are around just 2 by 2 mm. It inhabits shrubland, lowland and subalpine forests, and tussock grassland of mountain slopes, gullies, and ridges. Its range covers two main areas: one in Fiordland National Park, and one in the Mount Cook and Westland National Parks.

<i>Dracophyllum densum</i> Species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae

Dracophyllum densum is a species of shrub endemic to north-west Nelson in New Zealand's South Island. It was first described by Walter Oliver in 1952 and gets the specific epithet densum for its leaves growing densely. In the heath family Ericaceae, it inhabits mountain summits, plateaux, and ridge lines and reaches a height of 0.3–0.5 m (1–2 ft). A 2017 assessment using the New Zealand Threat Classification System classified it as “Declining,” giving it an estimated population of more than 100,000.

<i>Dracophyllum subulatum</i> Species of tree or shrub

Dracophyllum subulatum, commonly known as monoao, is a species of tree or shrub in the heath family Ericaceae. It is endemic to the central North Island of New Zealand.

<i>Myosotis traversii</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis traversii is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Joseph Dalton Hooker described this species in 1864. Plants of this species of forget-me-not are perennial rosettes which form tufts or clumps, with ebracteate, erect inflorescences, and white or yellow corollas with partly exserted stamens.

<i>Myosotis traversii <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> traversii</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis traversiisubsp. traversii is a subspecies of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the northern South Island of New Zealand. Joseph Dalton Hooker described the species M. traversii in 1864. Plants of this subspecies of forget-me-not are perennial rosettes which form tufts or clumps, with ebracteate, erect inflorescences, and white or yellow corollas with partly exserted stamens.

<i>Myosotis traversii <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> cantabrica</i> Species of flowering plant

Myosotis traversiisubsp. cantabrica is a subspecies of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, endemic to the central South Island of New Zealand. Lucy Moore described M. traversii var. cantabrica in 1961 and Heidi Meudt changed its rank to subspecies in 2021. Plants of this subspecies of forget-me-not are perennial rosettes which form tufts or clumps, with ebracteate, erect inflorescences, and white or yellow corollas with partly exserted stamens.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Venter, S. (2004). "Dracophyllum elegantissimum (Ericaceae), a new species from north‐west Nelson, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 42 (1): 37–43. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.2004.9512889 . S2CID   84572538 via Taylor Francis Online.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Dracophyllum elegantissimum". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  3. Eagle, Audrey Lily (2006). Eagle's complete trees and shrubs of New Zealand. Audrey Lily Eagle, Audrey Lily Eagle. Wellington, N.Z.: Te Papa Press. ISBN   978-0-909010-08-9. OCLC   85262201.
  4. "Dracophyllum elegantissimum". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  5. 1 2 "Flora of New Zealand | Taxon Profile | Dracophyllum elegantissimum". www.nzflora.info. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  6. "elegantissimum - Wiktionary". en.wiktionary.org. Retrieved 2021-02-22.