Haloragis erecta | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Saxifragales |
Family: | Haloragaceae |
Genus: | Haloragis |
Species: | H. erecta |
Binomial name | |
Haloragis erecta (Banks ex Murray) Oken | |
Haloragis erecta, the shrubby haloragis, toatoa, fireweed or erect seaberry, is a plant species that is endemic to New Zealand. It is an endemic, non-threatened perennial herb found throughout New Zealand up to an altitude of around 500m above sea level. The leaves are opposite and coarsely toothed. The stems are square and reddish/maroon in colour and flowers throughout the year producing red, pink and yellow flowers.
The toatoa grows stems up to one metre tall, branching out openly. Its stems are easily recognisable due to their red colouration. It has an opposite leaf arrangement, small petiole and leaves that grow up to 90mm. Along with the red stems, its most notable feature is its leaves with serrations of up to 4mm on the edge of each of its leaves. The leaf shape is elliptic and has lateral veins running throughout the leaf. When flowering from December through until February, the toatoa boasts up to 3 to 7 flowers on each branch. These flowers can range in colour from pinky reds to vibrant yellows with petals up to 10 mm during fruiting and small pinkish fruit that can be up to 4 mm in diameter. [1] [2]
The toatoa is found anywhere from sea level up until an altitude of to 500 m in altitude. It is found all throughout New Zealand, it thrives in fertile soil and colonies areas that have been subject to disturbance events such as forestation/land clearance such as slip scars as well as forest fires. It can also self propagate causing it to occasionally be seen as a weed within urban areas. [1] Worldwide, it is found within The United States of America, French Polynesia and the United Kingdom and were taken over to these areas in the 1800's. [3]
The toatoa has a perennial life cycle, which means that the plant grows each year and has an annual flowering and fruiting schedule. Each year the plant produces flowers which are then pollinated by various moths and butterflies. It then grows a small fruit that eventually falls off and is dispersed by wind. The seeds then lay dormant until the surrounding area is disturbed or there is a lack of cover above then the seed sprouts and grows into the plant, the cycle then continues. [3]
Toatoa prefer more fertile and nutrient-rich soils such as areas after wildfire as well as freshly cleared ground such as landslides and other open soils as they are among the first species to colonise an area, however, they can tolerate low nutrient soils and dryer conditions, allowing them to be a very resilient and successful plant. [1] They are host to many species of moths, beetles, mites, thrips and sucking bugs, a full list of which can be found here: https://plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz/ReportForm.aspx?RecordId=231&Type=P&SortBy=Alpha&Biostatus=a,c,e,n. These insects all carry out specific roles such as pollination as well as predation and living on the host, providing habitat and sustenance for many of these insects. It also has its own species of weevil, the haloragis weevil which is only known to live on the toatoa that feed on the woody tissue and spend their entire life and reproductive cycle on and within the plant. [4]
The toatoa is often sold as a garden plant and seeds have been transported overseas as an exotic garden plant as it stands out due to its uncommon characteristics such as its red flowers, fruits and stems as well as its serrated leaves causing its popularity. [3]
Lythrum salicaria or purple loosestrife is a flowering plant belonging to the family Lythraceae. It should not be confused with other plants sharing the name loosestrife that are members of the family Primulaceae. Other names include spiked loosestrife and purple Lythrum. This herbaceous perennial is native to Europe and Asia, and possibly Australia.
Urtica ferox, commonly known as tree nettle and, in Māori, ongaonga, taraonga, taraongaonga, оr okaoka, is a species of nettle endemic to New Zealand. Unlike the other species in the genus Urtica found in New Zealand, all of which are herbaceous, ongaonga is a large woody shrub that can grow to a height of 3 m (9.8 ft), with the base of the stem reaching 12 cm (4.7 in) in thickness. It has large spines that can result in a painful sting that lasts several days.
Streptocarpus is an Afrotropical genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. The genus is native to Afromontane biotopes from central, eastern and southern Africa, including Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. The flowers are five-petalled, salverform tubes, almost orchid-like in appearance, and hover or arch over the plant, while the pointed, elongate fruit is of a helical form similar to that of the "tusk" of a narwhal. In the wild, species can be found growing on shaded rocky hillsides or cliffs, on the ground, in rock crevices, and almost anywhere the seed can germinate and grow. For the home, there are now many hybrids of various colours and forms available.
Malva moschata, the musk mallow or musk-mallow, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae, native to Europe and southwestern Asia, from Spain north to the British Isles and Poland, and east to southern Russia and Turkey. Growing to 60 cm (24 in) tall, it is a herbaceous perennial with hairy stems and foliage, and pink saucer-shaped flowers in summer.
Fuchsia excorticata, commonly known as tree fuchsia, New Zealand fuchsia and by its Māori name kōtukutuku, is a New Zealand native tree belonging to the family Onagraceae. It is commonly found throughout New Zealand and as far south as the Auckland Islands. It grows from sea level up to about 1,000 m (3,300 ft), particularly alongside creeks and rivers. It is easily recognised in its native environment by the characteristic appearance of its bark, which peels spontaneously, hanging in red papery strips to show a pale bark underneath. Its scientific name, excorticata, reflects this distinctive property.
Araujia sericifera is a perennial vining plant in the genus Araujia, of the family Apocynaceae, that is native to South America. The species was described in 1817 by the Portuguese botanist Félix de Avelar Brotero. The synonym Araujia hortorum is in more frequent use in New Zealand. Its common names include bladderflower, white bladderflower, bladder vine, cruel vine, cruel plant, moth plant, moth vine, common moth vine, and false choko.
Pittosporum tenuifolium is a small evergreen tree endemic to New Zealand – up to 10 m (33 ft) – commonly known as kōhūhū and black matipo, and by other Māori names kohukohu and tawhiwhi. Its small, very dark, reddish-purple flowers generally go unnoticed, and are scented only at night. The Latin tenuifolium means "slender-leaved"
Phyllocladus toatoa, known as toatoa (Māori) or blue celery pine is a species of conifer in the family Podocarpaceae, endemic to New Zealand. It was formerly referred to as P. glaucus.
Pittosporum eugenioides, common names lemonwood or tarata, is a species of New Zealand native evergreen tree. Growing to 12 m (39 ft) tall by 5 m (16 ft) broad, it is conical when young but more rounded in shape when mature. Its leaves are mottled yellow-green with curly edges and a salient bright midrib, and have a strong lemony smell when crushed. It has highly fragrant clusters of attractive yellow-cream flowers in spring, followed by distinctive black seed capsules. It is found throughout New Zealand's North and South Islands along forest margins and stream banks from sea level to 600 m (1,969 ft). It is New Zealand's largest Pittosporum.
Salicornia quinqueflora, synonym Sarcocornia quinqueflora, commonly known as beaded samphire, bead weed, beaded glasswort or glasswort, is a species of succulent halophytic coastal shrub. It occurs in wetter coastal areas of Australia and New Zealand.
Leucopogon parviflorus, commonly known as coast beard-heath or native currant, is a shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae. It is native to all Australian states and territories excluding the Northern Territory and the ACT and also grows in New Zealand. The species can grow to between 1 and 5 metres in height and has leaves that are 11 to 29 mm long and 2.4 to 7.5 mm in width, often with curved tips. The white flowers are around 15 mm long and are produced in spikes of 7 to 13. These occur throughout the year.
Alyxia buxifolia, otherwise known as the sea box or dysentery bush, is a species of evergreen shrub in the family Apocynaceae.
Myrsine australis, commonly known as māpou, red matipo, tīpau, and mataira is a species of shrub within the family Myrsinaceae. It is endemic to New Zealand, found throughout both the mainland and offshore islands.
Rubus schmidelioides, commonly called bush lawyer or white leaved lawyer, is a climbing plant species found commonly in New Zealand. It is given the Māori name tātarāmoa which refers to the feet of the rooster. Its hooked branches allow it to climb across the ground and into shrubs and trees. R.schmidelioides fruit are yellow to orange.
Carex secta is a sedge from the Cyperaceae family that is endemic to New Zealand. It grows in wetlands. Its Māori names include purei, pukio and makura.
Plagianthus divaricatus or saltmarsh ribbonwood is a plant that is endemic to New Zealand. The Māori name is makaka. Other common names it is known by marsh ribbonwood, Houi and Runa.
Lobelia angulata, previously known as Pratia angulata, and commonly known as pānakenake, or Lawn Lobelia is a small scrambling herbaceous plant native to New Zealand.
Clematis foetida is a New Zealand endemic vine. Contrary to its scientific name C. foetida, its flowers are pleasantly perfumed.
Anaphalioides bellidioides, commonly known as the New Zealand everlasting daisy, is a native vascular shrub in the genus Anaphalioides, found distributed throughout New Zealand.