Raukaua simplex
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2025}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Botany of Antarctica-PL012-0029.jpg
| image_caption = Raukaua simplex (artist W.H.Fitch)
| image2 = Raukaua simplex 258334793.jpg
| genus = Raukaua
| species = simplex
| authority = (G.Forst.) A.D.Mitch., Frodin & Heads
| synonyms = Panax simplex G.Forst.
Pseudopanax simplex (G.Forst.) K.Koch
Nothopanax simplex (G.Forst.)
Neopanax simplex (G.Forst.) Allan
Pseudopanax simplex (G.Forst.) Philipson nom. illeg.
}}
Raukaua simplex, commonly known as haumakāroa, is a species of evergreen plant in the Araliaceae family. This species is native to New Zealand. The species occurs in certain lowland, montane and subalpine forests from the Waihou River southward to Stewart Island and the Auckland Islands. An example occurrence in Westland forests includes associates such as Cyathea smithii and Dicksonia squarrosa.
Description
Raukaua simplex grows as a shrub to small tree up to 8m in height.{{Cite web |title=Raukaua simplex - The University of Auckland |url=https://www.nzplants.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/seed-plants-flowering/araliaceae/raukaua-simplex.html |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=www.nzplants.auckland.ac.nz}}
The species exhibits a significant change in appearance (heteroblasty) between its juvenile and adult form. Juvenile leaves are palmately compound, 3-5 leaflets, and deeply lobed. Adult leaves are simple, with toothed margins.{{Cite journal |last1=Mitchell |first1=A. D. |last2=Frodin |first2=D. G. |last3=Heads |first3=M. J. |date=September 1997 |title=Reinstatement of Raukaua , a genus of the Araliaceae centred in New Zealand |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0028825X.1997.10410156 |journal=New Zealand Journal of Botany |language=en |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=309–315 |doi=10.1080/0028825X.1997.10410156 |bibcode=1997NZJB...35..309M |issn=0028-825X}}
Taxonomy
Raukaua simplex was first described in 1786 by Georg Forster as Panax simplex in Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus. Forster, J.G.A. (1786) [https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11162981 Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus 75.] In 1997, Mitchell, Frodin and Heads redescribed it, assigning it to the genus, Raukaua, thus naming it Raukaua simplex.
References
{{reflist|refs=
Peter Wardle. 1991. Vegetation of New Zealand, Published by CUP Archive, {{ISBN|0-521-25873-1}}, {{ISBN|978-0-521-25873-9}}, 672 pages
*[http://www.nzflora.info/factsheet/Taxon/Raukaua-simplex.html nzflora Factsheet Raukaua simplex]
Mitchell, A.D., Frodin, D.G. & Heads, M.J. (1997) New Zealand J. Bot. 35(3): 313
{{IPNI|997421-1|Raukaua simplex}}
}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15555708}}
Category:Flora of the Auckland Islands
Category:Plants described in 1786
{{Araliaceae-stub}}
{{NewZealand-plant-stub}}