Metrosideros excelsa Solander ex J. Gaertner, Myrtaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 6.5 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

English: New Zealand Christmas tree

Maori (NZ): pohutukawa

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Tree up to 20 m. tall; trunk up to 2 m. diameter; branches spreading; branchlets stout, tomentose. Leaves on short stout petioles; lamina (2.5)-5-10 x 2.5-3-5 cm., elliptic to oblong, acute or obtuse, coriac., thick, clad in white tomentum below (young plants occasionally glabrous below). Inflorescence of broad compound cymes with many flowers; pedicels stout, tomentose. Receptacle obconic; sepals deltoid; petals crimson, oblong. Stamens many, crimson, 3-4 cm. long. Ovary adnate to receptacle. Capsules 7-9 mm. long, tomentose, distinctly exserted, loculicidally 3-valved"  (Allan, 1982; p. 325).

Habitat/ecology:  "In South Africa this species is invading hygrophilous fynbos (fynbos on moist peaty soils).  Moist conditions are necessary for seed germination and establishment" (SABONET).

Propagation:  Produces large quantities of wind-borne seed (SABONET).

Native range:  New Zealand (Allan, 1982; p. 325).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1932) (voucher ID: BISH 60393) Taxon name on voucher: Metrosideros excelsa

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	native	Allan, H. H. (1982) (p. 325)

Additional information:
Additional online information about Metrosideros excelsa is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Metrosideros excelsa as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Metrosideros excelsa may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Allan, H. H. 1982. Flora of New Zealand, vol. I: Indigenous Tracheophyta - Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons. Botany Division, DSIR, Christchurch. .

Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.). 1932. Voucher specimen #BISH60393(Neal, M. s.n.).

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.