Kowhai Featured in Latest Issue of New Zealand Geographic
New Zealand has eight endemic species of Kowhai, S. chathamica, S. fulvida, S. godleyi, S. longicarinata, S. microphylla, S. molloyi, S. prostrata and S. tetraptera. Collectively the genus was voted into second place in last years NZPCN “vote for your favourite plant competition”. The New Zealand Geographic has traditionally run a series of articles celebrating our New Zealand flora, featuring for example, articles on pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa), nikau ( Rhopalostylis sapida), and the beech mistletoes (Alepis and Peraxilla). In the May-June 2006 issue of this popular magazine, the trend is continued with a personalized account of Kowhai offered by botanists Peter de Lange and Peter Heenan. All the species are illustrated, and brief accounts of their diagnostic characters, distribution and conservation mentioned. Aspects of kowhai as a cultural icon are discussed, and some myths, such as their “toxic” properties debunked. The origins of kowhai are discussed with respect to modern molecular based phylogenies. Both authors offer a plea for better conservation management of these remarkable and colourful trees. It being recognized that despite their ubiquitous presence through most of lowland New Zealand, all is not well, and some species have the potential to become seriously threatened. They also observe that some foreign species, particularly Chilean pélu (S. cassioides) but also S. macrophylla and S. howinsula are now widely cultivated in New Zealand, that they hybridise with our native species, and that they or their hybrids are often sold mislabeled as native species in garden centres.Posted: 11/05/2006