Hoheria populnea
Hoheria populnea, commonly known as New Zealand mallow,[1] lacebark or houhere, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae, endemic to New Zealand.
| Hoheria populnea | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Hoheria |
| Species: | H. populnea |
| Binomial name | |
| Hoheria populnea | |
Hoheria populnea is found from the coast to lowland forests, and has a natural distribution from the North Cape of the North Island, to the Bay of Plenty.[2] It can grow into a tree 12 metres tall and has broad, oval leaves, with serrated margins.[3] The leaves are dark green, 5–12 cm long and 6 cm wide.[4] Lacebark produces white flowers in clusters from January to March.[5]
The bark of the plant was used in Māori traditional textiles to create ropes, hats, kits and headbands.[6] Oral histories tell of early experiments to create felted material from the plant, similar to aute (the paper mulberry used in Polynesian textiles), however attempts were unsuccessful.[6]
References
- "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- Malloy, Les (1982). The Ancient Islands. Wellington: Port Nicholson Press. pp. 59. ISBN 0908635044.
- "Flowering seed plants: North and South Islands – Houhere, lacebark". The University of Auckland. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- "Lacebark, Ribbonwood Hoheria populnea (A.Cunn)" (PDF). Herb Federation of New Zealand. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- "Hoheria populnea". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- Neich, Roger (1996). "New Zealand Maori Barkcloth and Barkcloth Beaters". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 33: 111–158. ISSN 0067-0464.