Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Myrtales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Myrtaceae
Genus
Metrosideros Banks ex Gaertn.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Metrosideros perforata (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) A.Rich., Essai Fl. Nouv.-Zél., 334 (1832)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Leptospermum perforatum J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Char. Gen. Pl., ed. 2. 72 (1776)
  • = Melaleuca perforata G.Forst., Fl. Ins. Austr. 37 (1786)
  • = Metrosideros scandens Sol. ex Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. Pl. 172, t. 34, f. 10 (1788)
Vernacular Name(s):
Aka; Akatea; Akatorotoro; Clinging rata; Koro; Small white rata; Torotoro; Whakapiopio
 Description

Rather slender liane up to 15 m. or more tall; branchlets terete, ± setose. Lvs subsessile, close-set; lamina broad-ovate to broad-oblong to suborbicular on same plant, coriac., obtuse, ± 6–12 × 5–9 mm., glab. above, pale below and ± setose; margins recurved. Infl. of axillary few-fld cymes, crowded towards apex of branchlets; peduncles and pedicels pubescent to setose. Receptacle broad-turbinate; sepals broad, obtuse; petals suborbicular, white or pink; stamens 8–10 mm. long, white to pink. Ovary adnate to receptacle. Capsule subglobose, 4–5 mm. diam., exserted, loculicidally 3-valved.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Jan.–Mar.; Fruiting: Feb.–Jul.

 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. [Nationally Vulnerable]
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]
Forster, J.G.A. 1786: Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus. Dietrich, Göttingen.
Forster, J.R.; Forster, G. 1776: Characteres Generum Plantarum quas in Itinere ad Insulas Maris Australis Collegerunt, Descripserunt, Delinearunt, Annis. Edition 2. White, Cadell & Elmsley, London.
Gaertner, J. 1788: De Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum. Vol. 1. Stuttgart.
Richard, A. 1832: Essai d'une Flore de la Nouvelle Zélande. In: Dumont d'Urville, J. Voyage de découvertes de l'Astrolabe. Botanique. Tastu, Paris.