27:
113:
378:
342:
95:
354:
The flowers, borne in sprays on the tips of branches, are a mass of dark scarlet stamens. Flowering peaks between
November and January, and seeds take a year or slightly more to ripen. The bark is usually brown or grey-brown and rather corky and provides an ideal stratum for the roots of epiphytic plants such as
443:), which cause severe damage by eating the leaves, buds, flowers and young shoots of the tree. In severe cases this can lead to the death of the tree within two years. In some districts, this has resulted in the local loss of the species. The situation of the species has been improved through the efforts of
353:
species by its small, leathery, dark green leaves that are 2–4 cm long, and have a distinct notch at the tip. Young growth is generally pink and covered in fine rust-coloured hairs that are gradually shed as the foliage ages but tend to persist at the midrib and in the vicinity of the leaf base.
271:
high in the branches of a mature forest tree; over centuries the young tree sends descending and girdling roots down and around the trunk of its host, eventually forming a massive, frequently hollow pseudotrunk composed of fused roots. In disturbed ground, or where there are gaps in the forest cover,
463:
Northern rātā may be propagated readily from fresh seed. Viability of the seed drops quickly after a few weeks or if it is allowed to dry out. Cuttings do not strike readily, but better results can be obtained from using water shoots.
877:
847:
389:. In former times, the tree was described as a 'strangler', however it may be that rātā can only establish in trees that are already in decline. Northern rātā usually occurs in hardwood, podocarp, and
374:
Northern rātā often begins life as hemi-epiphyte, and the resultant tree has a hollow trunk up to 4 m in diameter made up of interlocking roots that enclose the space left by the former host tree.
1069:
316:
at 42°4′ South latitude. The natural habitat is forest along the coasts and in the lowlands. In some parts of its range northern rātā occurs in montane forest. Formerly, with rimu (
451:
is another threat to the survival of northern rātā. Pōhutukawa has naturalised in areas south of its natural range, and poses a problem in localities where the northern or
1062:
920:
1389:
885:
855:
964:
329:
on the west coast of South Island, nicknamed the "walking tree" because of its pair of leg-like trunks resembling legs walking across a field, won the
1055:
1337:
292:
in the south. Formerly widespread, it is now uncommon over large parts of its former range, and is apparently absent from all but the south-east of
1350:
1412:
330:
1510:
48:
70:
997:
1376:
471:
of northern rātā have been released. There are also known cultivars of hybrids between northern rātā and pōhutukawa (known as
762:
1515:
112:
1285:
41:
35:
1451:
1394:
1105:
455:
species are present. Other threats include cutting for firewood, and forest clearance for roading or construction.
52:
1276:
1134:
1023:
687:
422:
410:
1456:
1417:
979:
1125:
815:
783:
679:
610:
1238:
1208:
1190:
1152:
671:
452:
1290:
1505:
1181:
1172:
439:
386:
318:
229:
1355:
1404:
1311:
1217:
1199:
1096:
663:
638:
614:
426:
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414:
402:
642:
362:
301:
1520:
1477:
398:
107:
1425:
1298:
758:
726:
366:(kiekie). The wood is reddish brown, and the manner of its growth results in a twisted grain.
285:
1430:
562:
406:
394:
377:
739:
444:
150:
1443:
1438:
313:
137:
1024:"Establishment patterns and host tree preferences of the emergent hemi-epiphytic tree
1499:
586:
448:
267:. It grows up to 25 metres (82 ft) or taller, and usually begins its life as a
1482:
1303:
1080:
1047:
942:
297:
281:
268:
206:
1363:
1270:
264:
533:
Variegated leaves with a characteristic twist on the leaves. Also marketed as
390:
293:
289:
102:
A northern rātā towers above the forest at
Kaitoke Regional Park, Wellington.
1261:
1324:
305:
196:
1469:
341:
94:
1464:
1255:
475:), and between northern rātā and southern rātā. Known cultivars include:
468:
309:
186:
163:
437:
The greatest threat to northern rata is browsing by introduced possums (
1342:
356:
326:
245:
1368:
322:) it was a dominant tree in a forest type known as rimu/rātā forest.
272:
northern rātā will grow on the ground with a normal but short trunk.
176:
1232:
333:'s (NZ Arb)'s Tree of the Year Award with 42% of the public vote.
1381:
1329:
376:
340:
124:
757:(Reprinted ed.). Auckland: Collins New Zealand. p. 72.
349:
Northern rātā is a massive tree, easily distinguished from other
1316:
325:
In 2024 an unusual 105 feet (32 meters) tall northern rātā near
1236:
1051:
20:
345:
The leaves of northern rātā have a distinct notch at the tip.
914:
Pōhutukawa & Rātā: New
Zealand's Iron-Hearted Trees
1035:
New
Zealand Journal of Botany, 1998, Vol. 36: 203–212
784:"Metrosideros in cultivation: Rātā and other species"
393:
forests. It is often associated with such species as
755:
Collins handguide to the native trees of New
Zealand
385:
The host tree of epiphytic northern rātā is usually
1245:
1165:
1118:
1089:
537:‘Tane’s Gold’ by Duncan & Davies in 1996 and
1063:
8:
651:∞ Hybrid of northern rātā and southern rātā
1233:
1070:
1056:
1048:
1009:Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
848:"Metrosideros robusta 'Rangitoto Island.'"
477:
93:
84:
878:"Metrosideros umb x rob 'Sentinel Flame'"
816:"Metrosideros in cultivation: Pōhutukawa"
653:¤ Hybrid of northern rātā and pōhutukawa
71:Learn how and when to remove this message
34:This article includes a list of general
701:
951:New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
810:
808:
806:
804:
778:
776:
774:
735:
724:
634:Graeme Platt / Vibrant Earth nursery
585:Sourced from Hauparapara River in the
331:New Zealand Arboricultural Association
1022:Knightbridge, P.I.; J. Ogden (1998).
312:. It reaches its southern limit near
7:
1405:ca609802-c601-4bf5-aced-ceeee69aa004
40:it lacks sufficient corresponding
14:
513:Coppery red-coloured new growth.
1457:urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:598308-1
381:Rātā flowers at Mt Maungatautari
111:
25:
907:The Native Trees of New Zealand
884:. Vibrant Earth. Archived from
854:. Vibrant Earth. Archived from
300:, northern rātā is common from
709:Baker, Harry (5 June 2024). .
280:Northern rātā is found in the
263:, is a forest tree endemic to
1:
909:. Wellington: Heinneman Reed.
1511:Endemic flora of New Zealand
1106:Kermadec Island pōhutukawa (
916:. Wellington: Te Papa Press.
473:Metrosideros ×sub-tomentosa
370:Hemi-epiphytic growth habit
1537:
823:New Zealand Garden Journal
791:New Zealand Garden Journal
1173:Carmine or crimson rātā (
235:
228:
108:Scientific classification
106:
101:
92:
87:
1028:in northern New Zealand"
967:Northern Rata Fact Sheet
688:Metrosideros parkinsonii
680:Metrosideros bartlettii
55:more precise citations.
672:Metrosideros umbellata
382:
346:
753:Stewart, Ken (1993).
609:Sourced from east of
447:. Hybridisation with
440:Trichosurus vulpecula
380:
344:
319:Dacrydium cupressinum
1516:Trees of New Zealand
1277:Metrosideros robusta
1247:Metrosideros robusta
1026:Metrosideros robusta
1000:Metrosideros robusta
945:Metrosideros robusta
929:Flora of New Zealand
923:Metrosideros robusta
905:Salmon, J.T., 1986.
664:Metrosideros excelsa
639:Great Barrier Island
637:Sourced from either
615:Coromandel Peninsula
549:‘Rangitoto Island’
256:Metrosideros robusta
239:Metrosideros robusta
912:Simpson, P., 2005.
625:‘Sentinel Flame’∞
363:Freycinetia banksii
16:Species of epiphyte
1209:Small white rātā (
1191:Large white rātā (
1135:Parkinson's rātā (
888:on 23 January 2015
858:on 23 January 2015
691:, Parkinson's rātā
383:
347:
1493:
1492:
1426:Open Tree of Life
1239:Taxon identifiers
1230:
1229:
1126:Bartlett's rātā (
683:, Bartlett's rātā
649:
648:
595:M. ×sub-tomentosa
571:M. ×sub-tomentosa
252:
251:
81:
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73:
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1182:Colenso's rātā (
1108:M. kermadecensis
1072:
1065:
1058:
1049:
1044:
1042:
1041:
1032:
1018:
1016:
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984:
978:. Archived from
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829:(1): 10–22. 2010
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706:
613:township on the
579:Dull orange-red
573:‘Hauparapara’¤
563:Rangitoto Island
527:Dull orange-red
507:Dull orange-red
484:Year introduced
478:
288:in the north to
241:
116:
115:
97:
85:
76:
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65:
62:
56:
51:this article by
42:inline citations
29:
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1153:Southern rātā (
1144:Northern rātā (
1114:
1085:
1076:
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1037:
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1021:
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1004:
998:"Northern Rata
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976:Project Crimson
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675:, southern rātā
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501:‘Kawa Copper’
467:At least three
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445:Project Crimson
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339:
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248:
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221:M. robusta
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77:
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47:Please help to
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11:
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1483:wfo-0000242579
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1200:Scarlet rātā (
1197:
1188:
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1162:
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1137:M. parkinsonii
1132:
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797:(2): 11. 2010.
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641:or North-West
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490:Introduced by
488:
487:Flower colour
485:
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481:Cultivar name
460:
457:
434:
431:
391:southern beech
371:
368:
338:
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314:Lake Mahinapua
277:
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88:Northern rātā
79:
78:
33:
31:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1533:
1522:
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1484:
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1436:
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1396:
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1387:
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1164:
1158:
1156:
1151:
1149:
1147:
1142:
1140:
1138:
1133:
1131:
1129:
1128:M. bartlettii
1124:
1123:
1121:
1117:
1111:
1109:
1104:
1102:
1100:
1095:
1094:
1092:
1088:
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1036:
1029:
1027:
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1003:
1002:(fact sheet)"
1001:
995:
985:on 2007-06-14
981:
977:
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968:
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952:
948:
946:
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930:
926:
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918:
915:
911:
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904:
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882:Vibrant Earth
879:
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870:
857:
853:
852:Vibrant Earth
849:
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840:
828:
824:
817:
811:
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801:
796:
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785:
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656:
654:
644:
640:
636:
633:
630:
627:
624:
621:
620:
616:
612:
608:
606:Graeme Platt
605:
603:Deep scarlet
602:
599:
596:
593:
592:
588:
587:Bay of Plenty
584:
582:Graeme Platt
581:
578:
575:
572:
569:
568:
564:
561:Sourced from
560:
558:Graeme Platt
557:
554:
551:
548:
545:
544:
540:
536:
532:
529:
526:
523:
520:
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496:
492:
489:
486:
483:
480:
479:
476:
474:
470:
465:
458:
456:
454:
453:southern rātā
450:
446:
442:
441:
432:
430:
428:
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416:
412:
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400:
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307:
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283:
275:
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270:
266:
262:
261:northern rātā
258:
257:
247:
242:
240:
234:
231:
230:Binomial name
227:
223:
222:
217:
214:
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210:
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138:Tracheophytes
136:
133:
130:
129:
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120:
119:
114:
109:
105:
100:
96:
91:
86:
83:
75:
72:
64:
54:
50:
44:
43:
37:
32:
23:
22:
19:
1506:Metrosideros
1246:
1219:
1218:White rātā (
1211:M. perforata
1210:
1201:
1193:M. albiflora
1192:
1183:
1174:
1155:M. umbellata
1154:
1145:
1143:
1136:
1127:
1107:
1098:
1097:Pōhutukawa (
1081:Metrosideros
1079:
1078:New Zealand
1038:. Retrieved
1034:
1025:
1012:. Retrieved
1008:
999:
987:. Retrieved
980:the original
975:
966:
954:. Retrieved
950:
944:
932:. Retrieved
928:
922:
913:
906:
890:. Retrieved
886:the original
881:
872:
860:. Retrieved
856:the original
851:
842:
831:. Retrieved
826:
822:
794:
790:
754:
748:
715:. Retrieved
713:. Future PLC
711:Live Science
710:
704:
686:
678:
670:
667:, pōhutukawa
662:
650:
623:Metrosideros
622:
597:‘Mistral’¤
594:
570:
546:
538:
534:
521:‘Krinkley’
518:
498:
472:
466:
462:
438:
436:
433:Conservation
384:
373:
361:
360:species and
355:
351:Metrosideros
350:
348:
324:
317:
298:South Island
282:North Island
279:
276:Distribution
269:hemiepiphyte
260:
255:
254:
253:
238:
236:
220:
219:
208:Metrosideros
207:
170:
157:
144:
131:
82:
67:
58:
39:
18:
1364:iNaturalist
1271:Wikispecies
1184:M. colensoi
1175:M. carminea
631:Bright red
576:Late 1980s
541:‘Twistie’.
510:Deane Keir
459:Cultivation
337:Description
265:New Zealand
151:Angiosperms
53:introducing
1500:Categories
1444:kew-126548
1439:Plant List
1220:M. diffusa
1202:M. fulgens
1146:M. robusta
1099:M. excelsa
1090:Pōhutukawa
1040:2010-10-07
1014:2007-06-18
989:2007-06-09
956:2010-10-02
934:2007-06-09
833:2015-05-25
764:1869500504
736:|url=
696:References
611:Coromandel
547:M. robusta
539:M. robusta
535:M. robusta
519:M. robusta
499:M. robusta
449:pōhutukawa
294:Hawkes Bay
290:Wellington
36:references
1521:Epiphytes
1166:Rātā vine
717:15 August
469:cultivars
411:kahikatea
306:Greymouth
296:. In the
215:Species:
197:Myrtaceae
121:Kingdom:
61:June 2010
1470:22103145
1465:Tropicos
1382:598308-1
1256:Wikidata
727:cite web
657:See also
555:Crimson
419:kohekohe
395:rewarewa
310:Hokitika
193:Family:
187:Myrtales
164:Eudicots
1343:3185294
1317:5448727
1262:Q744244
1084:species
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862:16 June
738:value (
423:pukatea
357:Astelia
327:Karamea
286:Te Paki
246:A.Cunn.
203:Genus:
183:Order:
125:Plantae
49:improve
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734:Check
643:Nelson
493:Notes
415:kāmahi
407:kānuka
302:Nelson
259:, the
177:Rosids
38:, but
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1369:70237
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1330:MTDRO
1304:42JYP
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628:2007
524:1992
504:2001
427:māhoe
403:hīnau
284:from
171:Clade
158:Clade
145:Clade
132:Clade
1452:POWO
1390:NCBI
1377:IPNI
1351:GRIN
1338:GBIF
1325:EPPO
1286:BOLD
1119:Rātā
894:2015
864:2015
759:ISBN
740:help
719:2024
425:and
399:tawa
387:rimu
308:and
1478:WFO
1418:977
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304:to
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