Rangiora (plant)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| iRangiora | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
Secure
|
||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
| Brachyglottis repanda J.R.Forster & G.Forster |
Rangiora or Bushman's friend (Brachyglottis repanda) is a small, bushy tree or tall shrub endemic to New Zealand. It grows to a height of 5 to 7 metres. The large leaves with a soft furry underside have been referred to as "Bushman's toilet paper".
Although it has a single English vernacular name, in Māori it is variably known as Kōuaha, Pukapuka, Pukariao, Puke-rangiora, Rangiora, Raurākau, Raurēkau, Whārangi, or Whārangi-tawhito.
There is also a town in the South Island called Rangiora.
It is known that Māori in the past used the sap of this plant as a form of chewing gum; however it is now known that this plant contains an unknown poison, and so such use is not recommended (it can cause death if swallowed).
