Matagouri
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| Discaria toumatou Raoul |
Matagouri, Discaria toumatou, is a plant endemic to New Zealand.
Matagouri is a tangle branched, extremely thorny shrub or small tree up to 5 metres tall. It has small leathery leaves close to the thorns, which are only abundant in spring, or the shade. The flowers are tiny and white with no petals.
It is most common in tussock grassland, stony places and river beds. It is common in the eastern South Island, and found occasionally in the North Island south of the Waikato river.
It is considered a weed in parts of the South Island, but is an endangered species in the North Island. As a native plant it has complete protection on public conservation land.
As with other Discaria species it fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere with the help of symbiotic bacteria of the Frankia genus in its roots. An alternative but disused name for the plant is Wild Irishman.
