| Dracophyllum | |
|---|---|
    | |
| Clockwise from top: D. arboreum, D. milliganii, D. traversii, D. muscoides | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epacridoideae |
| Tribe: | Richeeae |
| Genus: | Dracophyllum Labill. |
| |
| Approximate distribution
Range
| |
Dracophyllum is a genus of plants belonging to the family Ericaceae, formerly Epacridaceae. There are 61 species in the genus, mostly shrubs, but also cushion plants and trees, found in New Zealand, Australia, Lord Howe Island and New Caledonia.[1] The name Dracophyllum, meaning dragon-leaf, refers to their strong outward similarity to the unrelated Dracaena, sometimes known as dragon tree. Although dicotyledonous, they resemble primitive monocots with their slender leaves concentrated in clumps at the ends of the branches; they are sometimes called grass-trees.
The height varies from one centimetre (D. minimum) to about 12 metres (D. longifolium).
- ^ Eagle, Audrey (2006). Eagle's complete trees and shrubs of New Zealand. New Zealand: Te Papa Press. p. 564. ISBN 0-909010-08-0.