Fierce lancewood
Pseudopanax ferox Kirk
Pseudopanax ferox is a small heteroblastic tree in the Araliaceae family, known as fierce lancewood. It is native to New Zealand and distinguished by its prominently tooth-shaped leaves, particularly in its juvenile stage. It resembles Pseudopanax crassifolius but has more pronounced leaf teeth.
Description
Pseudopanax ferox, also known as toothed lancewood or horoeka, is a species endemic to New Zealand. It is part of the Araliaceae family and is characterized by its heteroblastic growth pattern, where juvenile and adult leaves differ significantly in form. The juvenile leaves are sharply toothed, giving the tree a fierce appearance, hence its common name. This species is found in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It was first described in 1889 by Kirk.
Other common names
Fierce lancewoodToothed lancewood
Distribution
Global · New Zealand North · New Zealand South
Synonyms
Panax ferox
