Pterophylla racemosa
| Kāmahi | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Oxalidales |
| Family: | Cunoniaceae |
| Genus: | Pterophylla |
| Species: | P. racemosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Pterophylla racemosa (L.f.) Pillon & H.C.Hopkins (2021) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Pterophylla racemosa, commonly known as the kāmahi, is an evergreen tree endemic to New Zealand. It is a member of the Cunoniaceae family of plants, and it is often referred to by its former botanical name Weinmannia racemosa.
Most members of the Cunoniaceae are native to tropical wet parts of the Southern Hemisphere, with the majority of Pterophylla species being native to either Malesia and Papuasia or to Madagascar; however, two Pterophylla species are endemic to New Zealand: Pterophylla racemosa, and Pterophylla sylvicola. Whilst P. sylvicola is restricted to subtropical forests in the far north of North Island, P. racemosa is found growing across vast areas of the country as far south as Stewart Island and is found in a variety of climatic conditions from mild coastal areas to mountainous (sub)-alpine areas inland.
The abundance of the kāmahi (P. racemosa) across New Zealand has led to it long being described as the common tree in the country.