Metrosideros excelsa
Common name
pōhutukawa
Synonyms
Metrosideros tomentosa Richard
Family
Myrtaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
METEXC
Chromosome number
2n = 22
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley.
2018 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Brief description
Large sprawling mainly coastal tree with leathery oval leaves, bearing masses of red bristly flowers over Christmas. Naturally occurring north of Poverty Bay and north Taranaki, but can be now found as far south as Dunedin. Branches sprawling up to around 20 metres, often with masses of dangling reddish rootlets.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: Three Kings Islands and North Island from North Cape to about Pukearuhe, (northern Taranaki) in the west and near Mahia Peninsula (in the east). However, exact southern limit is difficult to ascertain as it has been widely planted and there is evidence that old time Maori cultivated the tree in some southerly areas. Found inland around the Rotorua Lakes and at Lake Taupo - though these occurrences could stem from Maori plantings (though the association of other normally coastal species around these lakes argues against this). Now widely planted throughout the rest of New Zealand (especially around Nelson, the Marlborough Sounds, the Kaikoura Coast and on the west coast to about Hokitika).
Habitat
Coastal forest and on occasion inland around lake margins. Also in the far north occasionally an associate of kauri forest. In some northerly locations it forms forest type in its own right - this forest is dominated by pohutukawa, other associates often include tawapou (Pouteria costata), kohekohe (Dysoxylum spectabile), puriri (Vitex lucens), karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatus), and on rodent-free offshore islands the frequent presence of coastal maire (Nestegis apetala), and milk tree (Streblus banksii) suggests these species too may once have been important in mainland examples of pohutukawa forest.
Features
Tree up to 20 m tall with canopy spread of 10-50m. Specimens typically multi-trunked from base, trunks up to 2 m diameter, branches spreading, and often arching, sometimes looping over ground, and/or bearing”brooms” of aerial adventitious roots. Branchlets numerous, twiggy and long-persistent. Bark firm, persistent and difficult to detach, often deeply furrowed, grey to grey-brown, somewhat corky. Young branchlets tomentose, being covered in fine, deciduous, greyish-white hairs. Leaves of all but water shoots leathery, 25-120 × 25-60 mm, elliptic, oblong, rarely lanceolate, apex acute or obtuse, dark olive-green, undersides thickly clad in white tomentum, adaxial surface at first distinctly tomentose but hairs shedding with leaf maturation. Flowers borne on stout, tomentose pedicels crimson, orange, pink, yellow (or very rarely white). Hypanthium obconic, calyx lobes triangular (deltoid).
Similar taxa
In New Zealand it is most frequently confused with the Kermadec pohutukawa (M. kermadecensis) which is endemic to Raoul Island (Kermadec Island Group). This island endemic differs by the smaller, rounder leaves, and much smaller inflorescences. It also has a tendency to sporadically flower throughout the year and on the New Zealand mainland at least it has a more erect, shrubby growth form, and rarely (if ever) makes a big tree.
Flowering
(August-) November-December (-March)
Flower colours
Red/Pink, Yellow
Fruiting
(January-) March-April (-May)
Propagation technique
Very easy from fresh seed. Seed must be sown fresh, even if left for a few weeks before sowing viability can drop, especially if seed is allowed to dry out. Very difficult from cuttings, though soft wood water shoots give the best results. Can be grafted onto seedlings.
Threats
Like all New Zealand tree Metrosideros, pohutukawa is most at risk from possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) browse. These can seriously damage and even kill trees. Often where their browsing occurs within sites of unrestricted stock and vehicle access, pohutukawa forest is in danger of becoming locally extinct. It does remain common over large parts of its range, a situation being greatly improved by the efforts of people encouraged by the national coordination of Project Crimson - a non profit organisation set up to protect, enhance and/or establish pohutukawa forest, as well as promote the species use, and its conservation.
Myrtle Rust (Austropuccinia psidii) is an invasive fungus which threatens native myrtle species - learn more myrtlerust.org.nz
Etymology
metrosideros: Iron heart
excelsa: Tall
Where To Buy
Commonly sold by most retail nurseries.
Video story
Project Crimson in Kawhia - TVNZ / DOC Meet the Locals Story.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange (4 January 2004). Description adapted from Allan (1961).
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I. Wellington, Government Printer.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Metrosideros excelsa Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/metrosideros-excelsa/ (Date website was queried)