About

Dracophyllum ophioliticum, commonly known as asbestos inaka and asbestos turpentine tree, is a species of shrub in the family Ericaceae. Endemic to the South Island of New Zealand, it grows into a sprawling shrub, reaching heights of just 30–200 cm (10–80 in), and has leaves which form bunches at the end of its branches.

D. ophioliticum flowers from January to March, producing small white flowers and later tiny light brown fruit. It has a range restricted to north-west Nelson in the Kahurangi National Park, growing only on serpentinite-asbestos clay loam. It was first described by Stephanus Venter in 2002 and genetically sequenced in 2010 when it was placed in the subgenus Oreothamnus.

Where it grows

D. ophioliticum is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand and is found only in the Tākaka and Cobb Valleys of Kahurangi National Park. It grows exclusively on Serpentine rocks which have Asbestos veins from around 457 – 1000 m above sea level on reddish-brown clay loams, which are areas in which rocks have turned into clay over time. Most plants are found on steep open slopes, though some can also grow in rock crevices in the middle of forest.

Other Dracophyllum plants

Dracophyllum acerosum · Tarahinau · Dracophyllum cockayneanum · Dracophyllum densum · Grass Tree · Dracophyllum filifolium · Fiordland grass tree · Fitzgerald Tree · Dracophyllum kirkii · Needle Leaved Neinei · Gumland Grass Tree · Inaka