Nikau
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 Nikau Palm (Rhopalostylis sapida)
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| Rhopalostylis sapida H.Wendl. & Drude |
Nikau (Rhopalostylis sapida) is a palm tree endemic to New Zealand. The Nikau, New Zealand's only native palm, grows in temperate, lowland areas of New Zealand. It grows naturally as far south as the Chatham Islands, the Banks Peninsula, and Hokitika on the West Coast, making it the world's southernmost palm at 44°S latitude. The name 'Nikau' in Maori means 'Many leaves on the same stalk'.
Nikau palms are a New Zealand icon and easily recognised by many New Zealanders, though are uncommon in planted gardens due to their slow growth rate and difficulty in transplanting.
The nikau grows to about 10 metres tall, with leaves up to 2.5 metres in length. During the summer light pink flowers grow in bunches below the leaf base, where lots of small orange berries take their place, but they take almost a year to fully ripen. These serve as food for the Kereru bird (also known as native wood pigeon).
[edit] References and external links
- Dowl (1998). Rhopalostylis sapida. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
- New Zealand native plant website: Rhopalostylis sapida
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