#dracophyllum

A widespread shrub or small tree found on the South Island and subantarctic islands, growing from sea level up to the alpine zone in forest, woodland, shrubland and bogs on mountain and hill slopes, on coastal cliffs and on bluffs.

A similar plant of the North Island has been recorded as longifolium in the past, but is actually a different species.

A heath endemic to the North Island, where it grows in low-lying areas between volcanoes, shrubland, and tussock-grasslands between 100 and 1200m elevation.

It grows up to two meters in height. The flowers may be green or white, and appear between November and March.

Previously known as nine other species of Dracophyllum. The generic name means dragon-leaf and refers to the similarity of some species to the unrelated Dracaena. 'filifolium'refers to the very narrow foliage. They are sometimes called grass-trees but that common names is also applied to entirely unrelated plants in Australia. This species is sometimes called the turpentine shrub, because of its readiness to burn even when green.

A shrub or tree-sized Heath-family plant, up to 4m tall, endemic to the North, South, and Stewart Islands of New Zealand. Most common on mountain slopes, saddles, and ridges.

First described by Charles Darwin's closest friend, the botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1853.

There are 61 species in the genus, of various sizes and forms, found across most of Australasia. Although dicotyledonous, they resemble primitive monocots with slender leaves concentrated in clumps at the ends of the branches.

Difficult to propagate - the minute seeds are wind-dispersed.