''Cordyline obtecta'' (Ti, Norfolk Island cabbage tree, Three Kings cabbage tree) is a widely branching monocot tree native to

Norfolk Island Norfolk Island (, ; Norfuk: ''Norf'k Ailen'') is an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and New Caledonia, directly east of Australia's Evans Head and about from Lord Howe Island. Together with ...

(the type locality), and to northern New Zealand. The species name ''obtecta'' derives from the Latin ''obtegere'' (to conceal, to cover up), alluding to the way the inflorescence barely protruded beyond the leaves in the plant first described.

Distribution

On Norfolk Island, ''C. obtecta'' grows in forest on Mt Bates, Mt Pitt, and elsewhere in the National Park. In New Zealand it was first described as ''C. kaspar'' and was thought to be restricted to the Three Kings Islands, 55 km north of the

North Island The North Island, also officially named Te Ika-a-Māui, is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but much less populous South Island by the Cook Strait. The island's area is , making it the world's 14th-largest ...

. Later it was found on the

at North Cape, and on Murimotu Island and the Poor Knights Islands. In 2005, ''C. kaspar'' was relegated to synonymy with ''C. obtecta''.

Description

''C. obtecta'' is a cabbage tree up to tall (generally much less), with a stout trunk in diameter. It has spreading branches covered with densely clustered stiff leaves that appear in tufts at the tips of the branches. The leaves are long, and wide, narrowing towards their bases into short leaf stems about wide. The leaves droop somewhat as they age. The flowers of ''C. obtecta'' are borne in many large, open branched panicles that appear among the leaves. The flowers are each about in diameter, and are very strongly scented. The fruit is a spherical berry in diameter, whitish or purplish blue. The bark on the trunk is grey and flaky.

Threats

On Norfolk Island many populations of ''C. obtecta'' are threatened outside the

national park A national park is a nature park, natural park in use for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state dec ...

, and it is listed as '

vulnerable Vulnerable may refer to: General * Vulnerability * Vulnerability (computing) * Vulnerable adult * Vulnerable species Music Albums * ''Vulnerable'' (Marvin Gaye album), 1997 * ''Vulnerable'' (Tricky album), 2003 * ''Vulnerable'' (The Used album) ...

' under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network lists the plant as 'At Risk/Range Restricted'. It also occasionally hybridises in New Zealand with '' C. australis'', the characteristics of the resultant plants being intermediate to those of the parents.

Cultivation

''C. obtecta'' is an attractive small tree which tolerates full sun but prefers shade when young. It is intolerant of wet conditions and is likely to be sensitive to frost. There are at least two commercially available cultivars which are becoming popular for street planting and for home gardens. 'Green Goddess' (probably of Three Kings origin) has slightly glaucous, matte-surfaced leaves and stiffly upright fruit panicles. 'Emerald Goddess' (probably from Norfolk Island) has glossy grass-green leaves and lax panicles.

Notes

References

*Salmon J T, ''The Native Trees of New Zealand'', AH & AW Reed, Wellington, New Zealand, 1973. * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q5170116 Asparagales of Australia obtecta Trees of Australia Trees of New Zealand Flora of Norfolk Island Flora of the North Island Taxa named by Robert Graham