Pseudopanax lessonii
| Houpara | |
|---|---|
 |
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| The leaves have 3 to 5 leaflets | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Araliaceae |
| Genus: | Pseudopanax |
| Species: | P. lessonii |
| Binomial name | |
|
Pseudopanax lessonii (DC.) K.Koch |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Panax lessonii DC. |
|
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.
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).
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.
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Wikipedia