| Brachyglottis repanda | |
|---|---|
| Illustration of Brachyglottis repanda | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Tribe: | Senecioneae |
| Genus: | Brachyglottis |
| Species: | B. repanda |
| Binomial name | |
| 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. The New Zealand Plant Website http://www.bushmansfriend.co.nz/ and related tourist organisation in Whangaroa are named after the plant.
Māori used the plant for a number of medicinal uses. The leaves were used for wounds and old ulcerated sores, and the gum was chewed for foul breath but was poisonous if swallowed.[1] It can also be used as note paper.
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Brachyglottis_repanda Brachyglottis repanda] at Wikimedia Commons