akiraho daisy tree fragrant along stream edges

Size
Height: 5–8 m
Lifespan
50–100 years
Diet
Not applicable (tree)
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
Native
Main Threats
Habitat loss from land clearance is the primary threat. No significant pest or disease issues. Climate change affecting dryland habitats. Browsing by livestock and rabbits in some areas.
Population
Populations are considered stable and widespread. The species is common in coastal and lowland areas of eastern New Zealand. It is not threatened by habitat loss because it grows in marginal areas. It is considered secure.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
A handsome shrub or small tree with a secret. A tree that hides gold under its leaves. Akiraho leaves are large, oval, and leathery, dark green above – but underneath, they are covered in golden-brown felt. The felt is soft and warm, giving the undersides a golden glow. When the wind turns the leaves, the tree flashes gold. A tree that shows its best when the wind blows. The leaves are the story. The golden felt is made of tiny hairs, protecting the leaf from drying out in the dry, eastern wind. The tree is extremely hardy, growing in dry, exposed sites where few other plants survive. A tree that lives where others cannot. The flowers are small, white, and daisy-like, appearing in summer. They are sweetly scented, attracting bees and butterflies. The fruit is a small, dry capsule, releasing fluffy seeds that blow on the wind. A tree that travels on the breeze. The name akiraho means bright or shining (aki = to be bright, raho = sun?), referring to the golden undersides of the leaves. The golden felt was also used as tinder for fire-making, catching a spark from flint or friction. A tree that 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 and does not split easily. To see an akiraho is to see a tree of the dry places. It grows on the river terrace, on the rocky slope, in the dry, eastern wind. Its leaves are green above and gold below, flashing in the sun. The wind blows. The leaves turn. The tree flashes gold. Then the wind stops, and the tree returns to green. It does not need to be gold all the time. Just when the wind blows.