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NZ Plants


Knightia excelsa - rewarewa, honeysuckle

Protea family: Proteaceae

Knightia excelsa is a tree with a distinctive slender tapering shape. The young branches and leaves have a felt-like covering of reddish hairs. Leaves are very leathery and are long, narrow and pointed with toothed margins. Juvenile specimens have thinner and more narrow leaves. Named after the English horticulturist Joseph Knight (1778-1855).

An endemic genus with one species. Found throughout the North Island and the upper portion of the South Island.

More on rewarewa: Takana Newsletter

 

Vegetative characteristics

Reproductive characteristics

Plant form: tree up to 30 m

Arrangement of parts: symmetric

Leaf form: undivided, linear, oblong

Flower size: 5-6 mm diam. x 30 mm long

Leaf size: 100-150 mm, juvenile 100-250 mm

Tepals (sepals indistinguishable from petals): 4, red

Leaf arrangement: Singly along stem

Sexuality: bisexual

Leaf attachment:

Stamens: 4

Leaf margin: toothed

Ovary: above petals

Leaf surface: hairs

Fruit: dry