Stats

Lifespan

Up to 1000 yrs

Size

Large

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Coastal forest

Range

New Zealand

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Defense

Armor

Status

Uncommon

About

This coastal tree clings to steep New Zealand cliffs with tangled aerial roots. Its flowers consist of hundreds of tiny stamens that explode into vibrant red bundles.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Myrtales

Family

Myrtaceae

Genus

Metrosideros

Species

Metrosideros excelsa