Knightia excelsa, commonly known as rewarewa (from Māori), is an evergreen tree endemic to the low elevation and valley forests of New Zealand. It is found in the North Island and at the tip of the South Island in the Marlborough Sounds (41° S) and the type species for the genus Knightia.
Description
Rewarewa grows to tall, with a slender crown. The leaves are alternate, leathery, narrow oblong, long and wide, and without stipules. The flowers are long, bright red, and borne in racemes long. Produces dry woody follicles.
Taxonomy
The species was first formally described in 1809 by Joseph Knight in the book On the cultivation of the plants belonging to the natural order of Proteeae, using the name Rymandra excelsa. This was revised the following year by Robert Brown in the paper On the Proteaceae of Jussieu, who placed the species in the genus Knightia, named after Joseph Knight. This remains the accepted scientific name used today.
Knightia excelsa is one of only two extant members of Proteaceae found in New Zealand, alongside Toronia toru. Many other species existed in the past, but became extinct during glaciation periods.
Etymology
The etymology (word origin) of rewarewa's genus, Knightia, is named in honour of British horticulturalist Thomas Andrew Knight. The specific epithet (second part of the scientific name), excelsa, means 'elevated' or 'tall'. It was called New Zealand honeysuckle by early European settlers, Rewarewa honey is one of the most popular native New Zealand honey varieties.