Metrosideros fulgens (scarlet rātā, rātā vine or in Māori akatawhiwhi) is a forest liana or vine endemic to New Zealand. It occurs in coastal and lowland forest throughout the North Island, on the west coast of the South Island and on the Three Kings Islands north of Cape Reinga. It is one of a number of New Zealand Metrosideros species which live out their lives as vines, unlike the northern rātā (M. robusta), which generally begins as a hemi-epiphyte and grows into a huge tree.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it poisonous?
We have no record of Scarlet rātā vine being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Metrosideros albiflora
- Metrosideros carminea
- Metrosideros robusta
- Metrosideros bartlettii
- Metrosideros umbellata
- Metrosideros kermadecensis
Classification
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Phylum
- Tracheophyta
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Order
- Myrtales
- Family
- Myrtaceae
- Genus
- Metrosideros
- Species
- Metrosideros fulgens
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