Lacebark (Hoheria sexstylosa)
Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Hoheria
Species: Hoheria sexstylosa.
Common names: Long-leaved lacebark, Lacebark, Houhere
Hoheria is a genus of six species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae. All are endemic to New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands. Hoheria are evergreen large shrubs or small trees bearing large quantities of 5-petalled, white flowers.
Hoheria sexstylosa is found just north of Auckland to NW of the south island. This species of Hoheria seldom exceeds 10m tall and can have a spread of branches to more than half this height. It is frequently found with multiple upright stems and branches when young but the smaller branches become increasingly pendulous as the tree ages. It is an evergreen tree and the small green leaves have serrated edges. The tree produces clusters of scented, star shaped white flowers in summer or autumn. It has much longer and more coarsely toothed leaves than the narrow-leaved lacebark. The juvenile form has interlaced weeping branches and small rounded leaves.
The bark was traditionally used by the Maori and early European settlers in New Zealand as a source of fibre which was made into rope.
Photographed Otago
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