Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Ericales Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Dracophyllum Labill.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Dracophyllum rosmarinifolium (G.Forst.) R.Br. ex Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg. (ed. 15) [Roemer & Schultes] 385 (1819)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Epacris rosmarinifolia G.Forst., Fl. Ins. Austr. 13 (1786) nom. inval.
  • ≡ Dracophyllum rosmarinifolium (G.Forst.) R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. 556 (1810) nom. inval.
Type: New Zealand. Dusky Bay, on summits of the highest mountains, 26 Mar. 1773. G. Forster s.n. (lecto: BM 577640!), designated by Hooker (1839).
  • = Dracophyllum uniflorum Hook.f., Handb. New Zealand Fl. 182 (1864)
Type: New Zealand. Wairau Mountains, Marlborough, W.T.L. Travers s.n. (lecto: K!; isolecto: CHR 45864!), designated by Oliver (1952). Left-hand specimen.
Etymology:
Refers to the leaves likened to those of the genus Rosmarinus L.
 Description

Erect, much-branched, up to ± 5 dm. tall; branches rather close-set. ± 10–15 cm. long, ascending; branchlets terminated by tufts of lvs, bark reddish brown. Sheath ± 7–12 mm. long, abruptly to gradually narrowed into lamina (2)–3–4–(5) cm. × 1–2–(3) mm., tapering to blunt or subacute apex; margins minutely ciliolate. Fls solitary on short lateral branchlets near tips of branches; bracts short, broad. Sepals narrow-ovate, margins pale, minutely ciliolate; corolla-tube c. 6 mm. long, lobes triangular; anthers not or hardly exserted. Capsule depressed-obovoid, 5-valved.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1. as Dracophyllum rosmarinifolium (G.Forst.) R.Br.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
Brown, R. 1810: Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen. Johnson, London.
de Lange, P.J.; Gosden, J.; Courtney, S.P.; Fergus, A.J.; Barkla, J.W.; Beadel, S.M.; Champion, P.D., Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Makan, T.; Michel, P. 2024: Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 43. [as Dracophyllum rosmarinifolium (G.Forst.) R.Br.] [Not threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [as Dracophyllum rosmarinifolium (G.Forst.) R.Br.] [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [as Dracophyllum rosmarinifolium (G.Forst.) R.Br.] [Not Threatened]
Forster, J.G.A. 1786: Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus. Dietrich, Göttingen.
Hooker, J.D. 1864: Handbook of the New Zealand Flora: a systematic description of the native plants of New Zealand and the Chatham, Kermadec's, Lord Auckland's, Campbell's and Macquarie's Islands. Part I. Reeve, London.
Mark, A.F. 2012: Above the Treeline: A nature guide to alpine New Zealand. Craig Potton Publishing, Nelson. [as Dracophyllum rosmarinifolium (G.Forst.) R.Br.; Dracophyllum uniflorum Hook.f. var. uniflorum]
Roemer, J.J.; Schultes, J.A. 1819: Systema vegetabilium. Vol. 4. Edition 15.
Venter, S. 2021: A taxonomic revision of the Australasian genera Dracophyllum and Richea (Richeeae: Styphelioideae: Ericaceae). Australian Systematic Botany 34: 1–205.