Pseudopanax lessonii
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| Houpara | ||||||||||||||
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 The leaves have 3 to 5 leaflets
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Secure
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| Pseudopanax lessonii (DC.) K.Koch |
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Panax lessonii DC. |
Pseudopanax lessonii, or houpara, is a New Zealand native tree belonging to the family Araliaceae. Houpara is a shrub or tree up to 6 m tall, with stout branches. The leaves are crowded towards the tips of branchlets, and are 3- to 5- foliolate. Juvenile plants have larger leaves than adults. The petioles are 5-15 cm long.
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[edit] Distribution
Endemic to New Zealand, Houpara's natural range is coastal forest and scrub on the Three Kings Islands and the North Island as far south as Poverty Bay.
[edit] Cultivation
Houpara is popular in New Zealand gardens, but is rare in cultivation elsewhere, requiring mild, moist conditions, without extremes of temperature in winter and summer. A number of cultivars have been developed, including 'Gold Splash' which has yellow variegated leaves, and 'Nigra' which has dark purple-brown foliage.
[edit] External links
- Flora of New Zealand, URL:Pseudopanax lessonii. Accessed 16 May 2007.
- New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, URL:Pseudopanax lessonii. Accessed 16 May 2007.
[edit] References
- Salmon J T, The Native Trees of New Zealand, AH & AW Reed Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand 1973 ISBN 0-589-01340-8
