''Toronia'' is a genus of tree in the family Proteaceae that contains a single species, ''Toronia toru'', which is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to New Zealand. The genus is closely related to the large genus ''

Persoonia ''Persoonia'', commonly known as geebungs or snottygobbles, is a genus of about one hundred species of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae. Plants in the genus ''Persoonia'' are shrubs or small trees usually with smooth bark, simple lea ...

'', and in fact this species was long regarded as one until placed in its own new genus by

Lawrie Johnson Lawrence Alexander Sidney Johnson Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, FAA, (26 June 1925 – 1 August 1997) known as Lawrie Johnson, was an Australian Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic botany, botanist. He worked at the Royal Botanic Garden ...

and Barbara G. Briggs in their 1975 monograph " On the Proteaceae: the evolution and classification of a southern family". However, phylogenetic studies indicate that ''Toronia'' is nested in the larger genus ''

'', where it was once included. ''Toronia toru'' is an

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, whic ...

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

found in the northern half of the North Island and is one of only two members of the

protea ''Protea'' () is a genus of South African flowering plants, also called sugarbushes (Afrikaans: ''suikerbos''). Etymology The genus ''Protea'' was named in 1735 by Carl Linnaeus, possibly after the Greek god Proteus, who could change his form a ...

family occurring in New Zealand. ''Toronia toru'' grows to 7 – 11 metres and has long slender green leaves, small yellow flowers, and red to dark purple-blue fleshy fruits.

References

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* {{Taxonbar, from1=Q7826244, from2=Q18201429 Proteaceae Trees of New Zealand Flora of the North Island Plants described in 1975 Monotypic Proteaceae genera Endemic flora of New Zealand Taxa named by Barbara G. Briggs Taxa named by Lawrence Alexander Sidney Johnson