Metrosideros robusta

North Island Ironwood ( Metrosideros robusta)

The North Island Ironwood ( Metrosideros robusta) is in addition to originating from the same genus South Island ironwood and Pohutukawa one of the most well-known tree species in New Zealand.

Description

The North Island ironwood begins its growth, first as an epiphyte, but soon forms aerial roots and grows it gradually to its host around, so that it eventually dies, in many cases, and the tree of the trained roots supplied independently. Large specimens can attain a height of 30 - in some cases up to 43 - reach meters and are mostly self- host for a variety of epiphytes. The bark of the trunks is often very thin and falls easily into rectangular pieces from.

The leaves of the North Island ironwood are thick and leathery, usually 50 mm × 20 mm in size. The red flowers bloom in December and January, have a diameter of 30 mm and fall on mainly by their long stamens. They are visited by both insects and birds because of their nectar. The vegetative growth following flowering in January until March, and this time the branches grow 70 to 80 mm.

The stock of the North Island ironwood is threatened primarily by the new arrivals to New Zealand brushtail possum ( Trichosurus vulpecula ), which itself has no predators and feeds, among others, from the leaves of Rata trees.