Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Ericales Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Dracophyllum Labill.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Dracophyllum kirkii Berggr. (1880)
Synonymy:
Type: New Zealand. Mount Torlesse, 1877. S. Berggren s.n. (lecto: O!), designated by Oliver (1952).
  • = Dracophyllum uniflorum Bergg. (1877) nom. illeg., non Dracophyllum uniflorum Hook.f. 1864
Etymology:
Named after Thomas Kirk (1828–1898) New Zealand botanist and teacher.
 Description

Prostrate to sprawling; branches stout, up to c. 5 dm. long, bark reddish brown to greyish; branchlets densely lfy, ascending at tips, bark reddish brown. Lvs crowded, erecto-patent, coriac.; sheaths ± 5–10 × 4–8 mm., rather abruptly narrowed into glab., glaucous lamina ± 20–35–(50) × (3)–4–5 mm., gradually narrowing to acuminate pungent tip; margins very minutely serrulate. Fls 6–9 mm. long, on lateral branchlets, shortly peduncled; bracts few, > fls. Sepals ovate, acuminate, persistent, ciliolate, < corolla-tube, which is ± 5 mm. long with ovate-triangular, acute lobes; anthers included. Capsule c. 3 mm. long, broadly obovoid.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Venter, S. 2021: A taxonomic revision of the Australasian genera Dracophyllum and Richea (Richeeae: Styphelioideae: Ericaceae). Australian Systematic Botany 34: 1–205.