Dracophyllum subulatum

Dracophyllum subulatum, commonly known as monoao,[3] is a species of tree or shrub in the heath family Ericaceae. It is endemic to the central North Island of New Zealand.

Monoao
Flower closeup

Not Threatened (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Dracophyllum
Species:
D. subulatum
Binomial name
Dracophyllum subulatum
Synonyms[2]
  • Dracophyllum angustifolium (Colenso)

It was first described by the British botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1844, and in 1867 was placed by the New Zealand botanist William Colenso in the subgenus Dracophyllum.

Description

It reaches a height of 0.3–2.0 m (0.98–6.56 ft) and has waved leaves, which look like narrow grass, with many thin stalks.

In juvenile form, D. subulatum's leaves spirally arrange along the soft grey, reddish or purplish brown in juvenile, branches and they spread. The colour of mature leaves is olive to dark green. They erect for spreading. Flowering time is from November to March, it produces green or white flowers. Its inflorescence (flower spike) is tiny and has not many flowers.

It was first described by the British botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1844, and in 1867 was placed by the New Zealand botanist William Colenso in the subgenus Dracophyllum.

Range

It is endemic to the North Island of New Zealand, from Rotorua to Taihape, living in low-lying areas between volcanoes, shrubland, and tussock grassland in altitudes from 100 to 1,200m.[4][5]

Ecology

They are facilitators, protecting native species from frosts, therefore encouraging plant biodiversity.[4]

References
  1. de Lange, P.J. "Dracophyllum subulatum Fact Sheet". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  2. "Dracophyllum subulatum Hook f." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  3. "Monoao (Dracophyllum subulatum)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  4. Giejsztowt, J.; Classen, A. T.; Deslippe, J. R. (2020). "Climate change and invasion may synergistically affect native plant reproduction". Ecology.
  5. "Dracophyllum subulatum". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Archived from the original on 2021-12-23. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
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