Species:
	Metrosideros umbellata
Common Name(s):
	Southern rata
Threat Status:
	Non Threatened
Status 2004:
	Non Threatened
Authority:
	Metrosideros umbellata Cav.
Family:
	Myrtaceae
Flora Category:
	Vascular - Native
Synonyms:
	Melaleuca lucida G.Forst., Metrosideros lucida (G.Forst.) A.Rich.
Distribution:
	Endemic. North, South, Stewart and Auckland Islands. In the North Island locally present from Te Paki south to Mt Pirongia, the northern Kaimai Ranges (Ngatamahinerua) and Mt Manuoha (Te Urewera National Park). In the South Island from Durville Island south and to Fiordland, with a mainly westerly distribution (absent from Marlbrough), most of Canterbury and northern Otago. Common on Stewart and the Auckland Islands.
Propagation Technique:
	Easy from fresh seed but inclined to be rather slow-growing unless planted in ideal conditions. In cultivation this species prefers a moist soil. Can be grown from soft-wood and semi-hardwood cuttings but these can be very difficult to strike. A beautiful specimen tree which shoud be more widely planted in locations where conditions are suitable.
Threats:
	Not Threatened. However, rather uncommon in the North Island, and at some sites it is locally threatened by possum browse.
Chromosome No.:
	2n = 22
Endemic Taxon:
	Yes
Endemic Genus:
	No
Endemic Family:
	No

Where To Buy
Occasionally available from retail and specialist native plant nurseries. Can be purchased from Oratia Native Plant Nurseries (info@oratianatives.co.nz)

Cultural Use/Importance
North Island plants are genetically (based on nrDNA ITS sequences) distinct from South Island plants but the differences cannot be matched to morphology. All recent southern rata collections made from the Tararua Ranges are the hybrid M. robusta x M. umbellata. A few photographs taken in the 1930s from the Francis Ridge, Southern Tararua Ranges may have been genuine M. umbellata but the species cannot be found there now. Other northern Tararua records of M. umbellata appear to be based on M. robusta.

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Last updated: 18 Jan 2010