Prumnopitys ferruginea
| Miro | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Araucariales
|
| Family: | Podocarpaceae |
| Genus: | Prumnopitys |
| Species: | P. ferruginea
|
| Binomial name | |
| Prumnopitys ferruginea (G. Benn. ex
D. Don ) de Laub. | |
Prumnopitys ferruginea, commonly called miro, is an
endemic to New Zealand. Before the genus Prumnopitys was distinguished, it was treated in the related genus Podocarpus
as Podocarpus ferrugineus.
It grows up to 25 m high, with a trunk up to 1.3 m diameter. The
The scientific name ferruginea derives from the rusty colour of dried
Pacific rosewood (Thespesia populnea) in tropical islands far north.[3]
Distinguishing miro from mataī
Miro is distinguished from the related, and (initially) very similar looking mataī (Prumnopitys taxifolia) in four aspects of its anatomy; its cones, bark, seeds and leaves.
- Miro trees have longer, broader leaves with green undersides while those of mataī leaves are white. In addition, the leaves of miro generally narrow to a point, whereas those of mataī are rounded, sometimes with a small point right at the very tip. Fine, flat, feathery foliage.
- Miro trees have cones of some hue of red in colour while those of mataī are blue-black.
- Miro also have relatively longer cones which are oval and red in colour.
- Like matai, the bark of more mature miro trees flakes off to leave a distinctive "hammer mark pattern", but unlike mataī, the pattern is not as pronounced nor as colourful (areas from which bark flakes have recently fallen in mataī often have a striking red colour that fades over time back to brown). these leaves take up to 3 years to decompose.
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Prumnopitys ferruginea.
- . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ ISBN 9780909010089.
- ^ "Miro". Te Māra Reo: The Language Garden. Benton Family Trust. 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
- Nature guide to the New Zealand forest, John Dawson and Rob Lucas, Godwit, 2000
- The Trees of New Zealand, L. Cockyane, E. Phillips Turner, Government printer, 1943
- Trees and shrubs of New Zealand, A.L. Poole and N.M. Adams, Government printer, 1963
- Gymnosperm Database: Prumnopitys ferruginea
- Photos of tree and foliage with cones