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Dracophyllum is a genus of plants belonging to the family Ericaceae, formerly Epacridaceae. There are some one hundred or so species in the genus, mostly shrubs but also cushion plants and trees, found in New Zealand, Australia and New Caledonia. The name, ''Dracophyllum'' or dragon-leaf refers to their strong similarity to the unrelated ''Dracaena'', sometimes known as dragon tree. Although dicotyledonous they resemble primitive monocots with their slender leaves concentrated in clumps at the ends of the branches; they are sometimes called Grass-trees. The height varies from one centimeter (D. minimum) to about 12 meters (D. longifolium). Among the New Zealand species are * ''D. arboreum'', Tree like growth to 10 m with a distinct juvenile phase. It is found in the Chatham Islands. * ''D. fiordense'', Western Otago and Fiordland. * ''D. latifolium'', Neinei or Spiderwood. Found throughout the North Island, from Mangonui southwards to North Taranaki and the Mahia peninsula, growing from sea level to 1,100 m (Salmon 1973:271). Usually found growing under kauri. * ''D. lessonianum'', Wi-wi, although it can grow up to 10 m high it most frequently is seen as a straggly shrub. * ''D. longifolium'', inanga or inaka. Growing to 12 m tall, this is the most widespread species in New Zealand, found from sea level up to 1200 m, in subalpine regions, from the middle of the North Island to as far south as the Auckland Islands. * ''D. mathewsii'', ''D. viride'' and ''D. sinclairii'' are found only in the far north of Tai Tokerau. * ''D. menziesii'' is a multi branched shrub that grows to 2 m. It grows in high rainfall areas in high montane to sub-alpine herbfields in Western Otago, Fiordland and Stewart Island/Rakiura. * ''D. pyramidale'', a very slender, almost fragile tree, growing up to 10 m high. Grows between Great Barrier Island and the Kaimai ranges. * ''D. recurvum'', a 1m shrub with curled leaves, found in sub-alpine to high alpine regions of the Central Plateau of the North Island. * ''D. townsonii'', very similar to the Neinei, grows mainly in the Nelson area and the West Coast of the South Island. * ''D. traversii'', Mountain neinei. Found above 750 m in the top half of the South Island. Australian Species *''D. sayeri'' Grows near the summit of Mount Bellenden Ker Queenslands Second Highest Peak. * ''D. macranthum'' restricted to the lansdown area near Taree on the NSW coast. * ''D. secundum'' found in mountainous heath and sheltered lowland gullies on sandstone in the Sydney basin. * ''D. oceanicum'' from seaside cliffs near Jervis Bay NSW. * ''D. milliganii'' from the highlands of Tasmania * ''D. minimum'' Cushion Plant from Tasmanian mountains, also widespread in NZ. ==References== *2 new species of Dracopyllum from NSW () * 'Poole' AL. 1966. Dracophyllum Species, An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand * 'Venter' S. 2002. ''Dracophyllum marmoricola'' and ''Dracophyllum ophioliticum'' (Ericaceae), two new species from north-west Nelson, New Zealand, New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2002, Vol. 40 : 39–47 * 'Venter' S. 2004. ''Dracophyllum mackeeanum'' (Ericaceae: Richeeae), a new species from New Caledonia, New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2004, Vol. 42: 747–751 * Salmon J T, ''The Native Trees of New Zealand'', AH & AW Reed, Wellington, New Zealand, 1973. ISBN 0-589-01340-8 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Dracophyllum」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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