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Whau Local Board Area
''Entelea arborescens'' or whau is a species of malvaceous tree endemic to New Zealand. ''E. arborescens'' is the only species in the genus ''Entelea''. A shrub or small tree to 6 m with large lime-like leaves giving a tropical appearance, whau grows in low forest along the coast of the North Island and the northern tip of the South Island. The dry fruit capsules are very distinctly brown and covered with spines. The common name ''whau'' is a Māori word that appears to derive from the common Polynesian word for hibiscus, particularly '' Hibiscus tiliaceus'', which it superficially resembles. Alternate names include 'New Zealand mulberry', 'corkwood' and 'evergreen lime'. Description Within the Malvaceae, ''Entelea'' is placed within tribe Sparrmannieae and subfamily Grewioideae, a position confirmed by ndhF DNA sequence data. As is the case with most malvaceous plants, ''E. arborescens'' has alternate, stipulate foliage. The bright green, obliquely cordate leav ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robert Brown (botanist, Born 1773)
Robert Brown (21 December 1773 – 10 June 1858) was a Scottish botanist and paleobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope. His contributions include one of the earliest detailed descriptions of the cell nucleus and cytoplasmic streaming; the observation of Brownian motion; early work on plant pollination and fertilisation, including being the first to recognise the fundamental difference between gymnosperms and angiosperms; and some of the earliest studies in palynology. He also made numerous contributions to plant taxonomy, notably erecting a number of plant families that are still accepted today; and numerous Australian plant genera and species, the fruit of his exploration of that continent with Matthew Flinders. Early life Robert Brown was born in Montrose, Scotland on 21 December 1773, in a house that existed on the site where Montrose Library currently stands. He was the son of James Brown, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cork (material)
Cork is an impermeable buoyant material. It is the phellem layer of bark tissue which is harvested for commercial use primarily from '' Quercus suber'' (the cork oak), which is native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa. Cork is composed of suberin, a hydrophobic substance. Because of its impermeable, buoyant, elastic, and fire retardant properties, it is used in a variety of products, the most common of which is wine stoppers. The montado landscape of Portugal produces approximately half of the cork harvested annually worldwide, with Corticeira Amorim being the leading company in the industry. Cork was examined microscopically by Robert Hooke, which led to his discovery and naming of the cell. Cork composition varies depending on geographic origin, climate and soil conditions, genetic origin, tree dimensions, age (virgin or reproduction), and growth conditions. However, in general, cork is made up of suberin (average of about 40%), lignin (22%), polysaccharid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Monotypic Malvales Genera
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispecific" or "monospecific" is sometimes preferred. In botanical nomenclature, a monotypic genus is a genus in the special case where a genus and a single species are simultaneously described. Theoretical implications Monotypic taxa present several important theoretical challenges in biological classification. One key issue is known as "Gregg's Paradox": if a single species is the only member of multiple hierarchical levels (for example, being the only species in its genus, which is the only genus in its family), then each level needs a distinct definition to maintain logical structure. Otherwise, the different taxonomic ranks become effectively identical, which creates problems for organizing biological diversity in a hierarchical system. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Loam
Loam (in geology and soil science) is soil composed mostly of sand (particle size > ), silt (particle size > ), and a smaller amount of clay (particle size < ). By weight, its mineral composition is about 40–40–20% concentration of sand–silt–clay, respectively. These proportions can vary to a degree, however, and result in different types of loam soils: sandy loam, silty loam, clay loam, sandy clay loam, silty clay loam, and loam. In the USDA, United States Department of Agriculture, soil texture, textural classification triangle, the only soil that is not predominantly sand, silt, or clay is called "loam". Loam soils generally contain more nutrients, moisture, and humus than sandy soils, have better drainage and infiltration of water and air than silt- and clay-rich soils, and are easier to tillage, till than clay soils. In fact, the primary definition of loam in most dictionaries is soils containing hu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Beilschmiedia Tawa
''Beilschmiedia tawa'', commonly known as the tawa, is a New Zealand broadleaf tree common in the central parts of the country. Tawa is often the dominant canopy tree species in lowland forests in the North Island and the north east of the South Island, but will also often form the subcanopy in primary forests throughout the country in these areas, beneath Podocarpaceae, podocarps such as kahikatea, Prumnopitys taxifolia, mataī, Miro (tree), miro and rimu. Individual specimens may grow up to or more in height, with trunks up to in diameter, and they have smooth dark bark. The Māori word "tawa" is the name for the tree. Tawa produce small inconspicuous flowers followed by long fruit of a dark red plum colour. With such large fruits, tawa is notable for the fact that it relies solely on the New Zealand pigeon (kererū) and (where present) the North Island kōkako for dispersal of its seed. These are the only remaining birds from New Zealand's original biota (ecology), biota ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Karaka (tree)
''Corynocarpus laevigatus'', commonly known as karaka or the New Zealand laurel, is a medium-sized evergreen tree in the family Corynocarpaceae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is common throughout the North Island and less common in the South Island. ''C. laevigatus'' individuals are also found on the Chatham Islands, Kermadec Islands, and the Three Kings Islands. ''C. laevigatus'' is mostly a coastal tree, although in the North Island, it is also found inland. ''Corynocarpus laevigatus'' was first described in 1776 by the German naturalists Georg and Johann Reinhold Forster. ''C. laevigatus'' grows to heights of up to and has a stout trunk of up to in diameter. Its leaves are leathery, dark to bright green in colour and up to long. From August to November, ''C. laevigatus'' produces large oval-shaped orange-coloured fruits, about in length. ''C. laevigatus'' seeds are highly toxic to humans and contain poisonous toxins and other glucosides of 3-nitropropionic acid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Coprosma Lucida
''Coprosma lucida'', commonly known as shining karamū, karamū, kāramuramu, shiny karamū, or kakaramu, is a shrub or tree endemic to New Zealand. Species Description ''Coprosma lucida'' is a plant that is typically found in the form of a shrub or tree. This plant reaches a maximum height between 5 and 6 metres. This species of ''Coprosma'' is a large-leaved species compared with other ''Coprosma''s. The leaves are dark green on the upper surface and a paler green underneath, with a leaf margin that sometimes undulates. The leaves of ''C. lucida'' are typically between 12 and 17 cm long. The typical width of ''C. lucida'' leaves at their widest point is 3–5 cm. The leaves are elliptical in shape, with a decreasing width at the tip of the leaf and where the leaf meets the petiole. The petiole of a plant connects the leaf to the stem. For ''C. lucida'', the petiole is typically 1–3 cm long, with a short, triangular stipule between opposite petioles. This t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Coprosma Macrocarpa
''Coprosma macrocarpa'', also known as large-seeded coprosma and coastal karamu, is a shrub native to New Zealand. It has large thick leaves and large bright red/orange berries. ''Macrocarpa'' means "large fruit". There are two subspecies. ''C. macrocarpa'' subsp. macrocarpa ranges from a shrub to a 10 metre tall tree. It occurs naturally on the Three Kings Islands. It is naturalised in the northern part of the North Island and around Wellington Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the third-largest city in New Zealand (second largest in the North Island .... ''C. macrocarpa'' subsp. minor is mostly a shrub up to 4 metres. It occurs in coastal areas from North Cape to East Cape and some offshore islands. References Flora of New Zealand macrocarpa Taxa named by Thomas Frederic Cheeseman {{NewZealand-plant-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Macropiper Excelsum
''Piper excelsum'' (formerly known as ''Macropiper excelsum'') of the pepper family (Piperaceae) and commonly known as kawakawa, is a small tree of which the subspecies ''P. excelsum'' subsp. ''excelsum'' is endemic to New Zealand; the subspecies ''P. e.'' subsp. ''psittacorum'' is found on Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and the Kermadec Islands. Description Kawakawa is found throughout the North Island, and as far south as Ōkārito (43.20 °S) on the West Coast, and Banks Peninsula (43.5 °S) on the east coast of the South Island. The tree grows to . The leaves are often covered with holes caused by the caterpillar of the kawakawa looper moth (''Cleora scriptaria''). The images depict the variety ''majus'' which has larger and more glossy leaves than ''P. excelsum''. Leaves Kawakawa leaves are about 5–10 cm long by 6–12 cm wide; they are opposite to each other, broadly rounded with a short drawn-out tip and are heart-shaped at their bases. The leaves ar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Urtica Ferox
''Urtica ferox'', commonly known as tree nettle and, in Māori, , , оr is a species of nettle endemic to New Zealand. Unlike the other species in the genus ''Urtica'' found in New Zealand, all of which are herbaceous, ongaonga is a large woody shrub that can grow to a height of , with the base of the stem reaching in thickness. It has large spines that can result in a painful sting that lasts several days. The plant is the main source of food for larvae of the New Zealand red admiral butterfly. Description ''U. ferox'' can grow to a height of 3 m (9.8 ft) with the base of the stem reaching 12 cm (4.7 in) in thickness. The pale green leaves are very thin like a membrane and the surface of the leaf, stems and stalks are covered in stiff stinging hairs that can grow up to long. These spines are prominent along the salient mid-vein and leaf margin. The leaves range from in width and in length, these are oppositely arranged and there are two stipules per ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hen And Chicken Islands
The Hen and Chicken Islands, usually known as the Hen and Chickens, lie to the east of the North Auckland Peninsula off the coast of northern New Zealand. They lie east of Bream Head and south-east of Whangārei with a total area of . History Approximately 18,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum when sea levels were over lower than present day levels, the islands were hilly features surrounded by a vast coastal plain. Sea levels began to rise 7,000 years ago, after which the islands separated from the rest of New Zealand. These islands were given their European name by Captain James Cook, who first sighted them on 25 November 1769. It has been suggested that the name was inspired by an old name for the star cluster usually known as the Pleiades. Originally owned by the Māori Ngā Puhi iwi, they were sold to the New Zealand Government in 1883. The islands were made a scenic reserve in 1908 owing to the rarity of their flora and fauna, and became a wildlife r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sparrmannia
''Sparrmannia'' is an African genus of plants in the family Malvaceae. Species Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ... lists the following species as accepted: * '' Sparrmannia africana'' L.f. * '' Sparrmannia palmata'' Baker * '' Sparrmannia ricinocarpa'' (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Kuntze References {{Taxonbar, from=Q203648 Malvaceae genera Grewioideae ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
