Metrosideros fulgens

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Metrosideros fulgens
Metrosideros fulgens produces brilliant red flowers in winter
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Metrosideros
Species: M. fulgens
Binomial name
Metrosideros fulgens
Sol. ex Gaertn.
Synonyms

Metrosideros scandens
(J.R.Forst. et G.Forst.)

Metrosideros fulgens (Scarlet rātā,[citation needed] rātā vine[1]) is a forest liane or vine endemic to New Zealand. It occurs in coastal and lowland forest throughout the North Island and on the west coast of the South Island. It is one of a number of New Zealand Metrosideros species which live out their lives as vines, unlike the northern rata ( M.robusta), which generally begins as a hemi-epiphyte and grows into a huge tree. Scarlet rātā is one of the better-known species of rātā vines, because it flowers in autumn or winter, and is often highly visible on well-lit host trees along forest roads, with vibrant displays of large red flowers (sometimes orange or yellow) that rise above the forest canopy.

Description

Unfolding stamens of the flower of M. fulgens
Metrosideros fulgens prefers warm moist habitats and grows up to 10m long or more, with the main stem up to 10 cm. or more in diameter. It climbs in the same way as ivy, sending out short adventitious roots to adhere to the trunks of host trees, penetrating and clinging to rough surfaces. The climbing shoots of juvenile plants are designed to grow rapidly and extend the length of the plant. The short clinging roots usually die after about a year, so that when the vine is mature, the thick, twisted, rope-like stems hang free from the host like thick, sometimes twisted ropes, with red-brown flaky bark. The leaves are mostly rounded at the tip. Flowering is from autumn to spring, with seed capsules taking about a year to ripen.

Cultivation

There are several cultivars of M. fulgens. Metrosideros ‘Gold’ has bright yellow flowers from late summer to early winter and grows to 1.5 by 1.5 metres, taking several years to reach this size. It has attractive fresh light green foliage, and can be trimmed to form an informal hedge. Another cultivar, Metrosideros fulgens 'Jaffa' is a compact bush producing brilliant burnt-orange flowers.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Māori Plant Uses Database". 

External links

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External links

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