| Tōwai, tawhero | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Oxalidales |
| Family: | Cunoniaceae |
| Genus: | Pterophylla |
| Species: | P. sylvicola |
| Binomial name | |
| Pterophylla sylvicola Sol. ex A.Cunn. | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Pterophylla sylvicola, known as tōwai or tawhero, is a medium-sized evergreen tree of the family Cunoniaceae native to northern New Zealand. It is formerly known as Weinmannia sylvicola.
Description
It grows to 15 m or more, with a trunk up to 1 m in diameter. Adult leaves are toothed and leathery, with up to five pairs of leaflets. Juvenile leaves are thinner and have up to ten pairs of leaflets. Flowers are small and pink or white, occurring in 8–12 cm racemes. Fruits are 4–5 cm capsules, which release many tiny seeds that are dispersed by wind.
Range and habitat
Tōwai occurs in forest and forest margins from North Cape south to the Waitākere Ranges west of Auckland. A closely related tree, kāmahi (P. racemosa), replaces tōwai south of latitude 37°S.
Gallery
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Foliage
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Flowers
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1895 botanical illustration by Sydney Parkinson
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References
- ^ Pterophylla sylvicola (Sol. ex A.Cunn.) Pillon & H.C.Hopkins Plants of the World Online, Kew Science. Accessed 17 April 2023.
- "New Zealand plant conservation network". Retrieved 2013-11-24.
- "T.E.R.R.A.I.N." Retrieved 2013-11-24.
- "Flora of New Zealand". Retrieved 2013-11-24.
- "Flora of New Zealand (W. Racemosa)". Retrieved 2013-11-24.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Pterophylla sylvicola | |
| Weinmannia sylvicola | |