Flora of New Zealand Series

Raupo-taranga.

Plants forming compact clumps, sts several metres in diam. Rhizome to 5 cm. diam., with ∞ cord-like roots. Lvs 60–100 × 3–5 cm.; lamina of very firm texture with ∞, subequal nerves, thickened margins and subacute tip; sheath to 30 cm. long, thick and very fleshy. Peduncle > lvs, c. 1 cm. diam., mostly covered by 3–4 sheathing green bracts of decreasing size. Raceme 15–35 cm. long, inclined to the peduncle so as to be almost horizontal; fls crowded; pedicels 10–15 mm. long, bracteate, those from the under side bending upwards so that all fls stand vertically. Fls red in all parts; tepals 10–15 mm. long, the outer c. 3 mm. wide, the inner c. 1.5 mm. Staminal filaments scarcely flattened, to 2 × tepals; anthers to 4 mm. long, pollen tangerine-coloured. Ovary c. 4 × 2 mm., oblong-trigonous, stipitate, the base surrounded by a thickened ring; nectar accumulating in a large viscid white drop on the concavity over each septum; style reaching to anther-level, hardening and remaining stiff and erect in ripe fr.; ovules in two short rows of about 8 in each locule, the placentae occupying the middle third of the axis. Capsule 9–11 mm. long including narrow gynophore of 2 mm., c. 8 mm. diam. below, narrower above, the valves drying hard and firm with the thickened margins separating widely above, narrowly below. Seeds us. fewer than ovules, ovate in outline, c. 1.6 × 1 mm., black, finely reticulate on the inner keeled face, the outer rounded face covered with semi-transparent blunt papillae.

DIST.: N. Known only from the Poor Knights Islands and from Hen (Taranga) Island off the east coast of North Auckland.

On sunny rocks and other well drained sites, us. facing the sea, to 300 m. altitude.

FL. 10–11–(12). FT. 12–2.