''Metrosideros diffusa'', the white rātā, climbing rātā or in Māori akakura, is a forest liane or
vine
A vine ( Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners thems ...
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...
to
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...
. It is one of a number of New Zealand ''
Metrosideros
''Metrosideros'' is a genus of approximately 60 trees, shrubs, and vines mostly found in the Pacific region in the family Myrtaceae. Most of the tree forms are small, but some are exceptionally large, the New Zealand species in particular. The ...
'' species which live out their lives as vines, unlike the northern rata (''
M.robusta''), which generally begins as a hemi-epiphyte and grows into a huge tree. It is one of three white flowering rātā vines (the others being
large white rātā and
small white rātā). White rātā is the most common climbing rātā in the wild, found naturally in lowland forests throughout the
North
North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.
Etymology
The word ''no ...
,
South
South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west.
Etymology
The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþa ...
and
Stewart islands.
Description
''Metrosideros diffusa'' climbs to 6 m tall and has small shiny leaves up to 2 cm or more. The leaves are mostly rounded at the tip. Flowering is from mid-spring to early summer, with white or pale pink flowers.
Cultivation
''Metrosideros diffusa'' is not widely grown in cultivation, but is available from specialist native plant nurseries within New Zealand. In addition there is one known cultivar, ''Metrosideros diffusa'' 'Crystal Showers' sold by Blue Mountain Nurseries in Tapanui.
This is a slow growing groundcover with white flowers but cream and green variegated foliage.
See also
*
Carmine/crimson rātā
*
Colenso's rātā
*
Large white rātā
*
Scarlet rātā
*
Small white rātā
References
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15372589
diffusa
Endemic flora of New Zealand
Garden plants of New Zealand
Vines