Asbestos inaka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Asbestos inaka |
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| Conservation status | |
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Invalid status (NZ TCS)
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dracophyllum
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| Species: |
ophioliticum
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Dracophyllum ophioliticum, also known as asbestos inaka or asbestos turpentine tree, is a type of shrub. It belongs to the plant family Ericaceae, which also includes heather and blueberry plants. This shrub is special because it only grows in New Zealand. You can find it in the North-west Nelson area, specifically in Kahurangi National Park. A scientist named S. Venter first described this plant in 2002.
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What Does Dracophyllum ophioliticum Look Like?
This shrub usually grows low to the ground, spreading out. It can be anywhere from 30 to 100 centimeters (about 1 to 3 feet) tall. If it grows in a shady spot, it might get taller, up to 200 centimeters (about 6.5 feet).
Its Unique Leaves
Like other plants in the Dracophyllum group, its leaves grow in bunches at the ends of its branches. Each leaf has a special base called a leaf sheath. These sheaths are about 4 to 9 millimeters long and 4 to 8 millimeters wide.
The leaves themselves are small, measuring 2 to 50 millimeters long and 1 to 2.5 millimeters wide. They have very tiny, saw-like teeth along their edges. You might find 10 to 13 of these tiny teeth in every centimeter! The leaves also feel a bit leathery and have small bumps, like tiny warts. They are slightly curved inwards and are covered with a waxy, powdery layer.
Flowers and When They Bloom
Dracophyllum ophioliticum produces pretty white flowers. These flowers grow on long, thin stalks called racemes, which are about 13 to 28 millimeters long. You can usually see these shrubs flowering from January through March.
How Was This Plant Discovered?
The Dracophyllum ophioliticum was officially named and described by scientist S. Venter. This happened in 2002. The details were published in a science paper called "Dracophyllum marmoricola and Dracophyllum ophioliticum (Ericaceae), two new species from north‐west Nelson, New Zealand."
Where Does Dracophyllum ophioliticum Grow?
This special shrub is endemic to New Zealand. This means it is found naturally nowhere else in the world. It grows only on the South Island of New Zealand. You can find it specifically in the Takaka and Cobb Valleys, which are both part of Kahurangi National Park.
What Does Its Name Mean?
The second part of its scientific name, ophioliticum, comes from an ancient Greek word. It describes the type of rock where this plant loves to grow. This rock is called Serpentine rock. So, its name tells us something important about its home!
See Also
