Knightia excelsa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Rewarewa | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Knightia excelsa R. Br. |
.jpg/240px-Knightia_excelsa_(foliage_&_flowers).jpg)
Knightia excelsa, Rewarewa in Maori, or New Zealand honeysuckle, is an evergreen tree endemic to the low elevation and valley forests of New Zealand's North Island and Marlborough Sounds.[1] Rewarewa grows to 30 m tall, with a slender crown. The leaves are alternate, leathery, narrow oblong, 10 - 15 cm long and 2.5 - 3.5 cm wide, and without stipules. The flowers are 2 - 3.5 cm long, bright red, and borne in racemes 10 cm long.
It was called "New Zealand honeysuckle" by early European settlers but the name has fallen into disuse in preference for the Māori name. Rewarewa flowers are a great source for honey production.
[edit] References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
- ^ Meylan, BA; BG Butterfield (1973). "Scanning Electron Micrographs of New Zealand Woods 2. Knightia excelsa R.Br.". New Zealand Journal of Botany II: 201-12.
