Metrosideros excelsa, commonly known as pōhutukawa, New Zealand Christmas tree, and iron tree, is a coastal evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that produces a brilliant display of red flowers, each consisting of a mass of stamens. The pōhutukawa is one of twelve Metrosideros species endemic to New Zealand. Renowned for its vibrant colour and its ability to survive even perched on rocky, precarious cliffs, it has found an important place in New Zealand culture for its strength and beauty, and is regarded as a chiefly tree by Māori.
This article relates to the flora of New Zealand, especially indigenous strains. New Zealand's geographical isolation has meant the country has developed a unique variety of native flora. However, human migration has led to the importation of many other plants as well as widespread damage to the indigenous flora, especially after the advent of European colonisation, due to the combined efforts of farmers and specialised societies dedicated to importing European plants & animals.
The Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands are a group of 13 uninhabited islands about 55 kilometres (34 mi) northwest of Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua, New Zealand, where the South Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea converge. They measure 6.85 km2 (2.64 sq mi) in area. The islands are on a submarine plateau, the Three Kings Bank, and are separated from the New Zealand mainland by an 8 km wide, 200 to 300 m deep submarine trough. Therefore, despite relative proximity to the mainland, the islands are listed with the New Zealand Outlying Islands. The islands are an immediate part of New Zealand, but not part of any region or district, but instead Area Outside Territorial Authority, like all the other outlying islands except the Solander Islands.
Cape Reinga, and officially Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua, is the northwesternmost tip of the Aupōuri Peninsula, at the northern end of the North Island of New Zealand. Cape Reinga is more than 100 km north of the nearest small town of Kaitaia.
Spirits Bay, officially named Piwhane / Spirits Bay, is a remote bay at the northern end of the Aupouri Peninsula, which forms the northern tip of New Zealand's North Island. It lies between Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua in the west and Ngataea / Hooper Point in the east. It is one of two bays in the short length of coast at the top of the North Island.
Metrosideros bartlettii, also known as Bartlett's rātā, Cape Reinga white rātā or in Māori as rātā moehau, is one of twelve Metrosideros species endemic to New Zealand and is notable for its extreme rarity and its white flowers, somewhat uncommon in that genus of red-flowered trees and plants. Its natural range is in the far north of the North Island at Te Paki, in three patches of dense native forest near Spirits Bay that escaped destruction by fire, namely Radar Bush, Kohuronaki Bush, and Unuwhao Bush. Only 13 adult trees are known to exist in the wild and most of these are either ill or dying. The lack of fossil evidence elsewhere suggests that the tree may always have been restricted to the North Cape area, which was an island until it was connected to the mainland by the sandspit that constitutes Ninety Mile Beach.
Metrosideros robusta, the northern rātā, is a forest tree endemic to New Zealand. It grows up to 25 metres (82 ft) or taller, and usually begins its life as a hemiepiphyte high in the branches of a mature forest tree; over centuries the young tree sends descending and girdling roots down and around the trunk of its host, eventually forming a massive, frequently hollow pseudotrunk composed of fused roots. In disturbed ground, or where there are gaps in the forest cover, northern rātā will grow on the ground with a normal but short trunk.
Metrosideros fulgens is a forest liana or vine endemic to New Zealand. It occurs in coastal and lowland forest throughout the North Island, on the west coast of the South Island and on the Three Kings Islands north of Cape Reinga. It is one of a number of New Zealand Metrosideros species which live out their lives as vines, unlike the northern rata (M.robusta), which generally begins as a hemi-epiphyte and grows into a huge tree. Scarlet rātā is one of the better-known species of rātā vines, because it flowers in autumn or winter, and is often highly visible on well-lit host trees along forest roads, with vibrant displays of large red flowers that rise above the forest canopy.
Metrosideros carminea is a forest liane or vine that is endemic to New Zealand. It occurs in coastal and lowland forest from Te Paki in the north of the North Island south to Māhia Peninsula and Taranaki. It is one of a number of New Zealand Metrosideros species which live out their lives as vines, unlike the northern rata (M.robusta), which generally begins as a hemi-epiphyte and grows into a huge tree.
Hymenophyton flabellatum is a species of the order Pallaviciniales (liverworts), one of perhaps several species in the genus Hymenophyton. It is a dendroid thalloid liverwort belongs to the family Hymenophytaceae and is commonly known as Fan liverwort. It is found in New Zealand, Chile, and common in wet forests of Australia and Tasmania. Hymenophyton flabellatum closely resembles with small filmy fern, Hymenophyllum and can be confused with the liverwort, Symphyogyna hymenophyllum.
Metrosideros perforata, also known as white rata, climbing rata, akatea or Akatorotoro, is one of twelve Metrosideros species endemic to New Zealand. It is one of three white flowering rātā vines.
The topic of ghosts and spirits (kehua) in Māori culture is often considered a tapu subject, yet many Māori legends contain mentions of apparitions and paranormal occurrences. It is claimed that long deceased family members may appear to warn of upcoming danger, such as with the famous phantom canoe in 1886 that many reportedly saw on Lake Tarawera, that is believed to have been an omen for the volcanic eruption that occurred eleven days later.
John Kenneth Bartlett was a New Zealand plant collector and botanist who specialised in mosses, liverworts, and lichens. In 1974, he found Bartlett's rātā growing south-east of Cape Reinga.
Frullania eboracensis, the New York scalewort, is a species of liverwort in the family Frullaniaceae. New York Scalewort can be distinguished from other species of scalewort by its morphology. In particular, the small size, lower leaf lobes that are about as long as they are across, lower leaf lobes that are about one-third to one-half the size of upper leaf lobes, underleaves that are only a little wider than their stems. The underleaves of New York Scalewort have toothless or nearly toothless lateral margins, and perianths that have smooth to slightly roughened keels along their sides. Despite some distinctive morphology, microscopy is often necessary to confidently distinguish New York Scalewort from other species of Frullania, and the cells of the leaves have diagnostic irregular, jagged edges and cell walls are swollen at intervals.
John E. Braggins is a New Zealand botanist and bryologist, known for his research into ferns and liverworts. Braggins lectured at the University of Auckland from 1969 until 2000, during which time he supervised and mentored a significant number of New Zealand botanists. During Braggins' career, he has taken part in the identification of 12 species and one suborder, many of which are endemic New Zealand liverworts.
Frullania hattorii is a species of liverwort in the order Porellales, native to Tasmania, Australia. The species was first described by Matt von Konrat and John E. Braggins in 2003.
Frullania truncatistyla is a species of liverwort in the order Porellales. The species was first described by Matt von Konrat, Jörn Hentschel, Jochen Heinrichs and John E. Braggins in 2011, and is native to New Zealand.
Frullania colliculosa is a species of liverwort in the order Porellales, native to New Zealand. The species was first described by Matt Von Konrat, Jörn Hentschel, Jochen Heinrichs, John E. Braggins and Tamás Pócs in 2010.
Frullania hodgsoniae is a species of liverwort in the order Porellales, native to New Zealand. The species was first described by Matt Von Konrat, Jörn Hentschel, Jochen Heinrichs, John E. Braggins and Tamás Pócs in 2010.
