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Dracophyllum traversii
Also called Mountain Neinei, Pineapple Tree
Dracophyllum traversii, commonly known as mountain neinei, grass tree, and pineapple tree is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae. It is a deciduous tree (or, in some cases, a shrub) endemic to New Zealand. It reaches a height of 0.2–13 m (0.66–42.65 ft) and has leaves which form tufts at the end of its branches. It has a lifespan of between 500 and 600 years.
Similar to some other Dracophyllum species, it has a candelabra-shaped canopy; long, thin, green leaves; and a prominent pyramid-shaped inflorescence. It has tiny red flowers, between 500 and 3000 on each panicle, and equally tiny reddish-brown dry fruit. D. traversii inhabits a variety of forest and shrubland types, from lowland to subalpine, in gorges, on cliffs, and on mountainsides.
Dracophyllum traversii is best propagated from seed and needs a constantly moist soil, though will likely be very slow growing and difficult to establish. It grows best in a semi-shaded area in humus; plants that are collected in the wild generally perish a few months after being planted in cultivation.
Dracophyllum traversii is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands. In the North Island it can be found from Waima Forest south to Taumarunui but also stretches east to the East Cape. It is also found in the Coromandel, Great and Little Barrier Islands, as well as areas in the Central volcanic Plateau. In the South, it is found in North-west Nelson down to Fiordland and Central Otago. It grows through a large vertical region, from sea level up to 1,768 m (5,801 ft) on 3–75 degrees steep gradients. Common areas it can be found on include: gorges, mountainsides, saddles, and cliffs. Full sun is preferred, though it will also grow in some shade. The New Zealand Threat Classification System classified it in 2023 as "Not Threatened," giving it an estimated population of at least 100,000.
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
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Dracophyllum traversii by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
