Dracophyllum

Dracophyllum is a genus on plants belonging to the family Epacridaceae. There are some forty seven species in the genus, mostly shrubs but also some trees, found in Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The name, Dracophyllum or Dragon-leaf refers to their strange, almost prehistoric appearance. Although docotyledenous they resemble primitive monocots with their slender leaves concentrated in clumps at the ends of the branches; they are sometimes called Grass-trees.

Among the New Zealand trees are

• Dracophyllum traversii, Mountain neinei. Found above 750m in the top half of the South Island.

• D. latifolium, Neinei or Spiderwood. Found throughout the North Island, apart from Tai Tokerau, from sea level to 1000m.

• D. townsonii, very similar to the Neinei.

• D. pyramidale, a very slender, almost fragile tree, growing up to 10m high. Grows between Great Barrier Island and the Kaimai ranges.

• D. mathewsii, D viride and D. sinclairii are found only in the far north of Tai Tokerau.

D. lessonianum, Wiwi, although it can grow up to 10m high it most frequently is seen as a shrub.

• D. fiordense, Western Otago and Fiordland.