Parataniwha (Elatostema rugosum)
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Rosales
Family: Urticaceae
Botanical name: Elatostema rugosum
Common name: Parataniwha , Native begonia, winkled elatostema. Maori name is Parataniwhaniwha
Parataniwha is a member of the nettle family. It is a herbaceous ground cover plant that grows up to at 2m tall in wet shaded areas such as damp shady streamsides and gullies. It can form large colonies and is often the dominant groundcover vegetation. It has large prominently veined bronze green leaves with purple tonings. Parataniwhais is found naturally only in the North Island It is found. The insignificant male and female flowers are usually carried on separate plants.
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