akiraho daisy tree fragrant along stream edges
- Size
- Height: 5–8 m
- Lifespan
- 50–100 years
- Diet
- Not applicable as this is a tree. Absorbs nutrients through roots. Thrives in dry, exposed sites with full sun. Tolerates drought, wind, and frost. Found in coastal and lowland areas.
- Habitat
- Coastal forests, lowland forests, river terraces, and scrub. Prefers fertile, well-drained soils with full sun. Tolerates drought, wind, and frost. Often found in dry, eastern areas.
- Range
- Found throughout the South Island and southern North Island. Most common in eastern regions of both islands. Also found on the Chatham Islands. Often found in coastal and lowland areas.
- Endemism
- Endemic
- Main Threats
- Habitat loss from land clearance is the primary threat. No significant pest or disease issues. Climate change affects dryland habitats. Browsing by livestock and rabbits occurs in some areas.
- Population
- Populations are stable and widespread. The species is common in coastal and lowland areas of eastern New Zealand. It is not threatened by habitat loss as it grows in marginal areas. It is considered secure.
- Conservation Status
- Not Threatened
- Human Risk
- harmless
- Handling Note
- native broadleaf tree/shrub, safe to handle
- Conservation Note
- Endemic shrub or small tree; widespread in coastal and lowland forests in northern North Island.
- Assessment
- NZTCS Vascular Plants (2023)
- Te Ao Māori
- In Māori tradition, akiraho was valued for its hard, durable wood. People used the wood for making small tools, chisels, and digging sticks. They noted the golden felt on the leaf undersides. They used it as tinder for fire-making. The name akiraho means bright or shining. Aki means to be bright. Raho may mean sun. This possibly refers to the golden leaf undersides. The tree was also known for its scented flowers.
Wind turns the leaves. Gold flashes underneath. Akiraho is a handsome shrub or small tree that hides its best feature until the breeze hits. The leaves are large, oval, and leathery. They are dark green above. Underneath, they carry a covering of golden-brown felt. This felt is soft and warm. It gives the undersides a golden glow.
The golden felt consists of tiny hairs. These protect the leaf from drying out in the dry, eastern wind. The tree is extremely hardy. It grows in dry, exposed sites where few other plants survive. It lives where others cannot.
Small, white, daisy-like flowers appear in summer. They are sweetly scented. Bees and butterflies visit them. The fruit is a small, dry capsule. It releases fluffy seeds that blow on the wind. The tree travels on the breeze.
The name akiraho means bright or shining. Aki means to be bright. Raho may refer to the sun. The name likely refers to the golden undersides of the leaves. People used the golden felt as tinder for fire-making. It caught a spark from flint or friction. The tree helped make fire.
The wood is hard and durable. Māori used it for making small tools, chisels, and digging sticks. The wood holds a sharp edge. It does not split easily.
Akiraho belongs to dry places. It grows on river terraces and rocky slopes. It stands in the dry, eastern wind. Its leaves are green above and gold below. They flash in the sun.
The wind blows. The leaves turn. The tree flashes gold. Then the wind stops. The tree returns to green. It does not need to be gold all the time. Just when the wind blows.