New Zealand Plants

DSC_1262 NZ Gloxinia, or Taurepo (Rhabdothamnus solandri) flowers throughout the year. Found in North Island coastal and lowland forests, mainly near streams, on rocky slopes and clinging to cliff faces. This unique endemic plant - with relatives on Lord Howe Island and Chile - is threatened and in decline, because of its co-dependance with our endangered native birds. The open-ended trumpet shaped flowers are specifically adapted for pollination by the long tapered beaks of hihi (stitchbird), tieke (saddleback), and bellbird, all of which are now absent from Northland forests, leaving only tui as a remaining pollinator. *