Pseudopanax lessonii
Houpara | |
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The leaves have 3 to 5 leaflets | |
Scientific classification | |
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Species: | P. lessonii
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Binomial name | |
Pseudopanax lessonii (DC.) K.Koch
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Synonyms | |
Panax lessonii DC. |
Pseudopanax lessonii, or houpara, is a New Zealand native tree belonging to the family Araliaceae. Houpara is a shrub or tree up to 6 m tall, with stout branches. The leaves are crowded towards the tips of branchlets, and are 3- to 5- foliolate. Juvenile plants have larger leaves than adults. The petioles are 5-15 cm long.
Distribution
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/PseudopanaxLessonii-003.jpg/180px-PseudopanaxLessonii-003.jpg)
Endemic to New Zealand, Houpara's natural range is coastal forest and scrub on the Three Kings Islands and the North Island as far south as Poverty Bay (38°4′S).
Cultivation
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/PseudopanaxLessoniiStarr.jpg/180px-PseudopanaxLessoniiStarr.jpg)
Houpara is popular in New Zealand gardens, but is rare in cultivation elsewhere, requiring mild, moist conditions, without extremes of temperature in winter and summer. A number of cultivars have been developed, including 'Gold Splash' which has yellow variegated leaves, and 'Nigra' which has dark purple-brown foliage.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Flora of New Zealand, URL:Pseudopanax lessonii. Accessed 16 May 2007.
- New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, URL:Pseudopanax lessonii. Accessed 2010-10-04.
References
- Salmon J T, The Native Trees of New Zealand, AH & AW Reed Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand 1973 ISBN 0-589-01340-8