Hoheria populnea | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malvales |
Family: | Malvaceae |
Genus: | Hoheria |
Species: | H. populnea
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Binomial name | |
Hoheria populnea |
Hoheria populnea, commonly known as New Zealand mallow,[1] lacebark or houhere, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae, endemic to New Zealand.
Hoheria populnea is found from the coast to lowland forests, and has a natural distribution from the North Cape of the North Island, to the Bay of Plenty.[2] It can grow into a tree 12 metres tall and has broad, oval leaves, with serrated margins.[3] The leaves are dark green, 5–12 cm long and 6 cm wide.[4] Lacebark produces white flowers in clusters from January to March.[5]
The bark of the plant was used in Māori traditional textiles to create ropes, hats, kits and headbands.[6] Oral histories tell of early experiments to create felted material from the plant, similar to aute (the paper mulberry used in Polynesian textiles), however attempts were unsuccessful.[6]