Pōhutukawa

Botanical illustration of a pōhutukawa sprig by Ellen Cheeseman

Pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa),<ref name="Wassilieff" /> also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree,<ref name=plantuse>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref> or iron tree,<ref>Template:Citation</ref> is a coastal evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that produces a brilliant display of red (or occasionally orange, yellow<ref name="MiC1">Template:Cite journal</ref> or white<ref name="MiC2">Template:Cite journal</ref>) flowers, each consisting of a mass of stamens. The pōhutukawa is one of twelve Metrosideros species endemic to New Zealand. Renowned for its vibrant colour and its ability to survive even perched on rocky, precarious cliffs, it has found an important place in New Zealand culture for its strength and beauty, and is regarded as a chiefly tree (Template:Lang) by Māori.<ref name="KING">Template:Cite news</ref>

Etymology

The generic name Metrosideros derives from the Ancient Greek Template:Lang or 'heartwood' and Template:Lang or 'iron'. The species name excelsa is from Latin Template:Lang, 'highest, sublime'. Template:Lang is a Māori word. Its closest equivalent in other Polynesian languages is the Cook Island Māori word Template:Lang, referring to a coastal shrub with white berries, Sophora tomentosa.<ref name="pollexpoofutukawa">Polynesian Lexicon Project Online, entry *poo-futu-kawa Template:Webarchive</ref> The -hutu- part of the word comes from Template:Lang, the Polynesian name for the fish-poison tree (Barringtonia asiatica; compare with Template:Langx and Template:Langx),<ref name="pollexFutu">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which has flowers similar to those of the pōhutukawa.

Description

File:YellowPohutukawa.jpg

The yellow-flowering "Aurea" cultivar

Pōhutukawa grow up to Template:Convert high, with a spreading, dome-like form. They usually grow as a multi-trunked spreading tree. Their trunks and branches are sometimes festooned with matted, fibrous aerial roots. The oblong, leathery leaves are covered in dense white hairs underneath.<ref name="Wassilieff"/>

The tree flowers from November to January with a peak in early summer (mid to late December), with brilliant crimson flowers covering the tree, hence the nickname New Zealand Christmas tree. The first published reference to pōhutakawa as a Christmas tree was in 1857, in a newspaper report of a feast held by Eruera Patuone.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> There is variation between individual trees in the timing of flowering, and in the shade and brightness of the flowers. In isolated populations genetic drift has resulted in local variation: many of the trees growing around the Rotorua lakes produce pink-shaded flowers, and the yellow-flowered cultivar 'Aurea' descends from a pair discovered in 1940 on Mōtītī Island in the Bay of Plenty. Template:Cn

Distribution

File:Ejemplar de pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa), Campo de San Francisco, Ponta Delgada, isla de San Miguel, Azores, Portugal, 2020-07-28, DD 09.jpg

Metrosideros excelsa on Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal

The pōhutukawa's natural range is the coastal regions of the North Island of New Zealand, north of a line stretching from New Plymouth (39° S) to Gisborne (38° S),<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> where it once formed a continuous coastal fringe. By the 1990s, pastoral farming and introduced pests had reduced pōhutukawa forests by over 90%.<ref name="KING"/> It also occurs naturally on the shores of lakes in the Rotorua area and in Abel Tasman National Park at the top of South Island.Template:Cn

The tree is renowned as a cliff-dweller, able to maintain a hold in precarious, near-vertical situations. Like its Hawaiian relative the Template:Lang (M. polymorpha), the pōhutukawa has been shown to be efficient in the colonisation of lava plains – notably on Rangitoto, a volcanic island in the Hauraki Gulf.<ref name="Wassilieff">Template:Cite web</ref>

Conservation

File:Pohutukawa flowers.JPG

A pōhutukawa in bloom

In New Zealand, pōhutukawa are under threat from browsing by the introduced common brushtail possum which strips the tree of its leaves.<ref name="KING"/> A charitable conservation trust, Project Crimson, has the aim of reversing the decline of the pōhutukawa and other Metrosideros species – its mission statement is "to enable pōhutukawa and rata to flourish again in their natural habitat as icons in the hearts and minds of all New Zealanders".Template:Cn

Uses

Pōhutukawa wood is dense, strong and highly figured. Māori used it for beaters and other small, heavy items. It was frequently used in shipbuilding, since the naturally curvy shapes made strong knees.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Extracts are used in traditional Māori healing for the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, sore throat and wounds.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Cultivation

Pōhutukawa are popular in cultivation, and there are fine examples in most North Island coastal cities. Vigorous and easy to grow, the tree flourishes well south of its natural range, and has naturalised in the Wellington area and in the north of the South Island. It has also naturalised on Norfolk Island to the north. Pōhutukawa have been introduced to other countries with mild-to-warm climates, including south-eastern Australia, where it is naturalising on coastal cliffs near Sydney. In coastal California, it is a popular street and lawn tree, but has caused concern in San Francisco where its root systems are blamed for destroying sewer lines and sidewalks.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In parts of South Africa, pōhutukawa grow so well that they are regarded as an invasive species. The Spanish city of A Coruña has adopted the pōhutukawa as a floral emblem.<ref name="Galbreath">Template:Cite web</ref>

At least 39 cultivars of pōhutukawa have been released. Duncan & Davies nurseries were a leading force in the mid-20th century, while the late Graeme Platt has been responsible for 16 different cultivars so far, including a rare white-flowering tree. Cultivars include:<ref name="MiC1" /> Template:Sticky header

Cultivar name	Year introduced	Flower colour	Introduced by	Notes
M. excelsa 'Aurea'<ref name="MiC1" />	1947	Greenish-yellow	Duncan & Davies	Sourced from Mōtītī Island.
M. excelsa 'Blockhouse Bay'<ref name="MiC1" />	mid-1980s	Bright red	Graeme Platt	Sourced from Blockhouse Bay, Auckland.
M. excelsa 'Butterscotch'<ref name="MiC1" />	1993	Fire Red<ref>Template:Cite web Template:Dead link Template:Cbignore</ref>	Duncan & Davies	Reddish stems and reddish-gold new leaves becoming butter-yellow and finally green with age. Sourced from M. excelsa 'Sunglow'.
M. excelsa 'Centennial'<ref name="MiC1" />	-	-	Graeme Platt	Reverse-variegated cultivar, erect growth habit. Sourced from Auckland Domain centennial plantings.
M. excelsa 'Christmas Cheer'<ref name="MiC1" />	-	Crimson	Bob Bayly	Consistently flowering around Christmas time. Flowers in large clusters.
M. excelsa 'Dalese'<ref name="MiC1" />	2010	Orange-red<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Lyndale Nurseries	Compact, low-growing selection. Often incorrectly sold as M. tomentosa 'Dalese', especially in Australia.
M. excelsa 'Fire Mountain'<ref name="MiC1" />	mid-1970s	Orange-scarlet	Felix Jury / Duncan & Davies	Very bright flowers and spreading habit. Sourced from Waitara riverbank plantings.
M. excelsa 'Firestone'<ref name="MiC1" />	1983	Fire-red	Graeme Platt	Bright flowers and sprawling form. Sourced from Mt Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula.
M. excelsa 'Flame Crest'<ref name="MiC1" />	1991	Orange-scarlet	Cyril Watson & George Smith / Duncan & Davies	Tall, erect form. Sourced from Kawaroa Park, New Plymouth.
M. excelsa 'Gold Finger'<ref name="MiC1" />	1986	Deep crimson	Duncan & Davies	Reverse-variegated form with bright gold leaves.
M. excelsa 'Golden Dawn'<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="MiC3">Template:Cite journal</ref>	2003	Melon Pink	Robert Harrison	Reverse-variegated cultivar from Australia. Grows to around Template:Convert. Grew from M. excelsa 'Pink Lady' under cultivation. 10–20% chance of variegation reverting.
M. excelsa 'Gold Nugget'<ref name="MiC1" />	2000	-	Jim Rumbal / Duncan & Davies	Variegated cultivar with fresh green margins and yellow centres.
M. excelsa Hauraki'<ref name="MiC1" />	-	Red	Graeme Platt	Outstanding sized flowers and tall, erect form. Sourced from Long Bay Regional Park, Auckland.
M. excelsa 'Kopere'<ref name="MiC1" />	2007	Orange-red	Graeme Platt	Vibrant flowers and glossy green leaves. Sourced from Brooks Bay, near Awhitu Regional Park, Auckland.
M. excelsa 'Lighthouse'<ref name="MiC1" />	1983	Crimson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Graeme Platt	Early flowering (November). Sourced from Rangitoto Island.
M. excelsa 'Manukau'<ref name="MiC1" />	1990	Orange-red	Graeme Platt	Well-balanced flower heads that also bloom inside the canopy of the tree. Sourced from Manukau City shopping centre.
M. excelsa 'Maori Princess'<ref name="MiC1" />	1970s	Red	Ian McDowell / Duncan & Davies	Open branched, upright tree. Sourced from Brougham Street, New Plymouth.
M. excelsa 'Midas'<ref name="MiC3" />	1988	Red	William (Bill) Robertson	Reverse-variegated cultivar from Australia, but slightly unstable (can revert to non-variegated status)
M. excelsa 'Mini Christmas'<ref name="MiC2" />	-	Red		Low growing cultivar from Australia, grows to around 1m tall.
M. excelsa 'Moon Maiden'<ref name="MiC1" />	1988	Sulphur yellow	Duncan & Davies	Light grey-green foliage. Sourced from M. excelsa 'Aurea'.
M. excelsa 'Mt Maunganui'<ref name="MiC1" />	1993	Red	Lyndale Nurseries	Sourced from Pitau Road, Mount Maunganui. Source tree of significance to Ngāi Te Rangi iwi, where several Māori skeletons were found at its base.
M. excelsa 'Octopussy'<ref name="MiC2" />	2004	Red	Naturally Native NZ Plants Auckland	Weeping growth habit. Sometimes available as a standard.
M. excelsa 'Ohope'<ref name="MiC1" />	-	Red	Duncan & Davies<ref name="MiC2" />	Variegated form. Green leaves with cream margins.
M. excelsa 'Parnell'<ref name="MiC1" />	early 1970s	Red	Graeme Platt	Very large and widely spreading tree. Sourced from Parnell Rose Gardens, Auckland.
M. excelsa 'Pink Lady'<ref name="MiC1" />	1988	Melon Pink	Duncan & Davies	Small upright tree with compact flower heads.
M. excelsa 'Plus Four'<ref name="MiC1" />	2002	Bright Red	Graeme Platt	Upright growth habit. Sourced from Awhitu Golf Course, Auckland.
M. excelsa 'Pouawa'<ref name="MiC1" />	-	-	Graeme Platt / Rob Bayly	Long-lasting flowers. Sourced from north of Gisborne.
M. excelsa 'Rangitoto'<ref name="MiC1" />	mid-1980s	Dark Red	Tom Johnson / Dawn Nurseries	Upright, smallish tree. Sourced from Te Atatū, Auckland from a plant originally sourced on Rangitoto Island.
M. excelsa 'Royal Flame'<ref name="MiC1" />	1988	Deep-crimson	Jim Rumbal / Duncan & Davies	Upright tree, flowers have contrasting yellow anthers. Sourced from Waitara West Marine Park.
M. excelsa 'Scarlet Pimpernel'<ref name="MiC1" />	1976	Scarlet	Felix Jury / Duncan & Davies	Small, compact growth. Suitable for containers & patios. Sourced from Princess Street, Waitara.
M. excelsa 'Sunglow'<ref name="MiC1" />	1980	-	Duncan & Davies	Variegated with gold leaf margins. flowers and form. Thought to be sourced from Oswald Blumhardt, plant breeder in Whangarei.
M. excelsa 'Tamaki'<ref name="MiC1" />	1985	Orange-red	Graeme Platt	Bright flowers. Sourced from Tamaki Drive, Auckland.
M. excelsa 'Te Kaha'<ref name="MiC1" />	mid-1980s	Red with orange hints.	Graeme Platt	Medium-sized bushy tree. Sourced from Te Kaha Hotel, Bay of Plenty.
M. excelsa 'Titirangi'<ref name="MiC1" />	late-1980s	Scarlet	Graeme Platt	Erect tree with copious flowers. Sourced from Margan Ave, Auckland near the Titirangi Golf Course.
M. excelsa 'Upper Hutt'<ref name="MiC1" />	-	-	-	Reverse-variegated foliage. Sourced from public gardens in Upper Hutt.
M. excelsa 'Variegata'<ref name="MiC1" />	-	Red	-	Variegated leaves. Not to be confused with M. kermadecensis. 'Variegata'.
M. excelsa 'Vibrance'<ref name="MiC1" />	1985	Orange-red	Graeme Platt	Flowers have exceptionally long stamens. Sourced from Waiomu Bay, Coromandel Peninsula.
M. excelsa 'Whakarewarewa'<ref name="MiC1" />	late-1980s	Very dark red	Graeme Platt	Sourced from Whakarewarewa, Rotorua.
M. excelsa 'White Caps'<ref name="MiC2" />	2009	White	Graeme Platt	Sourced from Piha Beach, Auckland.

Iconic pōhutukawa

A giant pōhutukawa at Te Araroa on the East Coast is reputed to be the largest in the country, with a height of 20 metres and a spread of Template:Convert.<ref name="Survival">Template:Cite web</ref>

A pōhutukawa tree with an estimated age of 180 years known as 'Te Hā'<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is fully established at an Auckland City park. 'Te Hā' is the largest urban specimen in the country. Plans to build a monument in honour of victims of the Erebus Disaster in proximity to the tree activated significant local opposition in 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

References

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External links

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Rare Metrosideros E. Alley, at Sao Miguel Island, Azores, where it grows faster and larger than in its native habitat

Template:New Zealand Metrosideros Species Template:Taxonbar