Nikau
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| iNikau | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image:Nikau Palme 01.jpg Nikau Palm (Rhopalostylis sapida)
| ||||||||||||||
| | ||||||||||||||
|
</div> | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| | ||||||||||||||
| Rhopalostylis sapida H.Wendl. & Drude |
Nikau (Rhopalostylis sapida) is a palm tree endemic to New Zealand. The Nikau, New Zealand's only native palm, grows in temperate, lowland areas of New Zealand. It grows naturally as far south as the Chatham Islands, the Banks Peninsula, and Hokitika on the West Coast, making it the world's southernmost palm at 44°S latitude.
Nikau palms are a New Zealand icon and easily recognised by many New Zealanders, though are uncommon in planted gardens due to their slow growth rate and difficulty in transplanting.
The nikau grows to about 10 metres tall, with leaves up to 2.5 metres in length.
[edit] References and external links
- Dowl (1998). Rhopalostylis sapida. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
- New Zealand native plant website: Rhopalostylis sapidade:Nikau-Palme
