This guide to the plants of Piha and environs is organised alphabetically according to the Maori name. If the Maori name is not know, the botanical name is used. Overall, the Index is specific to the Piha area and all the photographs were taken by Sandra Coney in the Piha area. There are over 500 [ Read More ]
Aka/akakura or scarlet rata vine Metrosideros fulgens family Myrtaceae This flamboyant member of the pohutukawa family provides a wonderful show in late summer. A climber, it appears as flashes of brilliant red in the bush and on roadsides. The Latin word “fulgens” means shining or glistening and aka really does live up to this name. [ Read More ]
Hangehange Geniostoma ligustrifolium family Loganiaceae This unimpressive little shrub serves a very useful purpose in forest, especially sealing the margins of bush when adjoining clear areas and roadsides. It is very common and self-seeds readily. Hangehange is a much-branched bushy shrub with soft shiney light-green leaves. It is the first plant in the forest to [ Read More ]
Kahakaha or tank or perching lily Collospermum hastatum family Liliaceae A common epiphyte throughout lowland forest in the North Island and in the north of the South Island, it is distinguished by its fan-shaped habit and black colour at the base of the yellowish-green leaves. The tight base of the plant holds rainwater, and some [ Read More ]
Parataniwha Elatostema rugosa family Urticaceae Parataniwha is a handsome ground-cover plant with long oval ruby or purple-coloured leaves with prominent veins and a wrinkled surface. It likes shadey, damp areas in the forest and when it cloaks the forest floor or a ravine or rocky stream-side it produces a beautiful sight. While related to the [ Read More ]
Ureure Glasswort Sarcocornia quinqueflora family Amaranthaceae You’ll find this low-growing succulent close to the shore, growing on rocks. In other locations it grows on shell banks and in salt marshes. It can form large mats and has short fleshy stems that point upwards, which are dull green but can be red-tipped if the plant is [ Read More ]