Dracophyllum longifolium


Dracophyllum longifolium, commonly called inaka, is an upright shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae that is endemic to New Zealand.
Dracophyllum longifolium grows mostly in the South Island but is found throughout New Zealand from sea level up to. Inaka occurs in open forests where it can grow as high as 12 metres and in sub-alpine areas it generally reaches.
Dracophyllum longifolium has thin branches that become marked with rings as old leaves die. The needle-like long leaves are wide and up to long with a pointed tip and are often softly coloured from green through to orange and brown.
Inaka is a long-lived plant and can survive for up to 220 years.

Varieties

This species has the following varieties:
In both 2009 and 2012, D. longifolium var. longifolium was deemed to be "Not Threatened" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, and this New Zealand classification was reaffirmed in 2018.
However, D. longifolium var. septentrionale was classified as "At Risk - Naturally Uncommon" in 2012, and in 2018.