Dracophyllum traversii

Dracophyllum traversii is a shrub or tree that grows to a height of 0.2–13 m tall. It has flaky light brown bark with leaves that concentrate at the ends of branches similar to that of species in the family Bromeliaceae.[2]

Its leaves are 9–86 by 1.7–5 cm, leathery and very finely toothed such that there are 18 to 20 teeth every 10 mm. The green leaves are each sheathed in 3–7 by 3–5 mm green to light brown sheaths.[2]

It flowers from October to February with densely packed 18–40 cm long inflorescences producing 500 to 3000 or more red (sometimes green) flowers on each. The inflorescence has an axis 1.3–1.65 cm in diameter with 3–6 cm branches at right angles to the axis.[2]

It fruits from December to May producing yellow brown coloured 0.95–1 mm long egg-shaped seeds. The seeds are dispersed by wind, easy given their tiny size.[2]

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  In fruit

Dracophyllum traversii was first described by Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1867.[1] Dracophyllum means 'dragon leaf', drawing from its similarity to the dragon tree from the Canary Islands. The specific epithet traversii refers to William Thomas Locke Travers, a New Zealand lawyer, politician, explorer, and naturalist who lived in New Zealand from 1849.[2]

As of January 2021, the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network regards Dracophyllum pyramidale as a synonym of D. traversii.[2] Plants of the World Online regards them as separate species, D. traversii occurring in the South Island and D. pyramidale in the North Island.[1][3]

Dracophyllum traversii is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands. In the North Island it can be found from Waima Forest south to Taumarunui but also stretches east to the East Cape. In the South, it is found in North-west Nelson down to Fiordland and Central Otago.[2]