Rhabdothamnus solandri.
Rhabdothamnus solandri.
Known by a number of common and Maori names, New Zealand Gloxinia, Taurepo, Matata, Waiuatua, Kaikaiatua, Mata, this is an interesting shrub with exquisite flowers.
Flowers are distinctly different from all other NZ Native plants as it is the only NZ representative in the family Gesneriaceae. Rhabdothamnus genus is only found in NZ and is limited to one species R. solandri.
Flowers are nodding with variable colours of orange red and orange with red veins and yellow with red veins. Flowers are up to 22mm long on 20mm stems hanging from leaf axils. When seen are not forgotten. It flowers from October to February.
A special form of the yellow flower was named Rhabdothamnus solandri ‘Aureus’ was collected from the northern slopes of the Kaitake range near new Plymouth on the property of Dr Blackley and brought into cultivation by Mr V.C. Davies. The original plant was destroyed by fire.
Unfortunately many of the flowers are somewhat hidden in the plant so the flowers are not as showy as people would like it. However this does not mean it should not be grown. It would be interesting to find a form that was able to show off its flowers a little better.
Leaves and branches are quite hairy with grey hairs. The leaves are rounded and toothed, somewhat marbled in appearance and have the appearance of being tanslucent.
It does not tolerate much frost but is growing in Christchurch as an understory plant which is protected from frost by the canopy cover above.
It was discovered by Banks and Solander in Mercury Bay in 1769.
2019 Favourite Plant.
“The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network held their 16th favourite native plant voting this year. The official victor of New Zealand’s favourite plant for 2019 is taurepo, Rhabdothamnus solandri. Unlike many past winners, taurepo is not a total oddity; it does not have any urgent conservation issues, and it is not what we would consider an iconic New Zealand species.
But it is a damn lovely thing! Almost all of us who have encountered this North Island shrub are immediately drawn to it, it’s round, hairy, toothed leaves sit somewhere between a lacebark and a papery version of silver beech, it’s tangled mass of stems invoke Coprosma, but it’s flowers are like nothing else – and should be like nothing else as Rhadothamnus is an endemic monotypic genus, and the only representative of the Gesneriaceae family in New Zealand.
The solitary bell-like flowers, which can almost always be encountered as it flowers throughout the year, range from orange, through yellow, sometimes to purple or pink, and are striped lengthwise with red or dark orange veins making taurepo instantly recognisable.” RNZIH Newsletter Dec 2019.
Known by a number of common and Maori names, New Zealand Gloxinia, Taurepo, Matata, Waiuatua, Kaikaiatua, Mata, this is an interesting shrub with exquisite flowers.
Flowers are distinctly different from all other NZ Native plants as it is the only NZ representative in the family Gesneriaceae. Rhabdothamnus genus is only found in NZ and is limited to one species R. solandri.
Flowers are nodding with variable colours of orange red and orange with red veins and yellow with red veins. Flowers are up to 22mm long on 20mm stems hanging from leaf axils. When seen are not forgotten. It flowers from October to February.
A special form of the yellow flower was named Rhabdothamnus solandri ‘Aureus’ was collected from the northern slopes of the Kaitake range near new Plymouth on the property of Dr Blackley and brought into cultivation by Mr V.C. Davies. The original plant was destroyed by fire.
Unfortunately many of the flowers are somewhat hidden in the plant so the flowers are not as showy as people would like it. However this does not mean it should not be grown. It would be interesting to find a form that was able to show off its flowers a little better.
Leaves and branches are quite hairy with grey hairs. The leaves are rounded and toothed, somewhat marbled in appearance and have the appearance of being tanslucent.
It does not tolerate much frost but is growing in Christchurch as an understory plant which is protected from frost by the canopy cover above.
It was discovered by Banks and Solander in Mercury Bay in 1769.
2019 Favourite Plant.
“The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network held their 16th favourite native plant voting this year. The official victor of New Zealand’s favourite plant for 2019 is taurepo, Rhabdothamnus solandri. Unlike many past winners, taurepo is not a total oddity; it does not have any urgent conservation issues, and it is not what we would consider an iconic New Zealand species.
But it is a damn lovely thing! Almost all of us who have encountered this North Island shrub are immediately drawn to it, it’s round, hairy, toothed leaves sit somewhere between a lacebark and a papery version of silver beech, it’s tangled mass of stems invoke Coprosma, but it’s flowers are like nothing else – and should be like nothing else as Rhadothamnus is an endemic monotypic genus, and the only representative of the Gesneriaceae family in New Zealand.
The solitary bell-like flowers, which can almost always be encountered as it flowers throughout the year, range from orange, through yellow, sometimes to purple or pink, and are striped lengthwise with red or dark orange veins making taurepo instantly recognisable.” RNZIH Newsletter Dec 2019.