Dracophyllum elegantissimum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Dracophyllum
Species:
D. elegantissimum
Binomial name
Dracophyllum elegantissimum
S.Venter[1]

Dracophyllum elegantissimum, commonly known as grass tree or slender dragon tree, is a flowering plant in the family Ericaceae. Endemic to New Zealand, it is found in the north of the South Island, in north-west Nelson.[2][3]

Description

Dracophyllum elegantissimum is a single-stemmed tree which grows to a height of 5–14 m (16–46 ft). Its branches have flaky light brown bark with leaves concentrated in tufts similar to that of plants in the family Bromeliaceae, together forming a candelabra-shaped crown. The light green 33–100 by 1–3.2 cm (12.99–39.37 by 0.39–1.26 in) leaves are leathery and sheathed in 22–58 by 13–43 mm (0.87–2.28 by 0.51–1.69 in) light brown sheathes. Glabrous and very finely toothed, such that there are 12–24 teeth every 10mm, the leaves are also curled. It flowers from December until February, producing 600–1000 or more flowers on a pyramid-shaped 19–32 cm (7.5–12.6 in) long inflorescence.[4][5] Fruiting occurs from February to March, yielding yellow-brown 0.7–0.8 millimetres (0.028–0.031 in) long filiform seeds.[1]

D. elegantissimum is very similar to D. traversii, but differs most clearly from the latter by its long, thin leaves which are curled at the ends. It also has smaller nectary scales and ovaries as well as longer inflorescence bracts, however. It is also allied to D. latifolium, but can be identified by its longer inflorescence bracts, corolla lobes which are shorter than the corolla tubes, as well as smaller nectary scales and ovaries.[2]

Distribution and habitat

D. elegantissimum is endemic to New Zealand and is found only in north-west Nelson in lowland to upper montane forests. They are almost always found on 5–45˚ south-west to north-west facing slopes.[2]

Taxonomy

Discovery and naming

It was first described in 2004 by Stephanus Venter in the New Zealand Journal of Botany. It was first collected, however, 36 years earlier in 1968 by A. P. Druce who identified it as Dracophyllum traversii. The specimen was collected from Moa Park in Abel Tasman National Park and its differences were discovered later, during a separate study on D. traversii.[1]

Etymology

Dracophyllum means dragon leaf which comes from its similarity to the dragon tree.[2] It gets the Specific epithet elegantissimum, Latin for elegant, due to the graceful way in which the canopy forms and its long, narrow leaves.[5][6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Venter, S. (2004). "Dracophyllum elegantissimum (Ericaceae), a new species from north‐west Nelson, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 42 (1): 37–43. doi:10.1080/0028825X.2004.9512889. S2CID 84572538.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Dracophyllum elegantissimum". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  3. ↑ Eagle, Audrey Lily (2006). Eagle's complete trees and shrubs of New Zealand. Audrey Lily Eagle, Audrey Lily Eagle. Wellington, N.Z.: Te Papa Press. ISBN 978-0-909010-08-9. OCLC 85262201.
  4. ↑ "Dracophyllum elegantissimum". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  5. 1 2 "Flora of New Zealand | Taxon Profile | Dracophyllum elegantissimum". www.nzflora.info. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  6. ↑ "elegantissimum - Wiktionary". en.wiktionary.org. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
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