Toronia

Toronia
Toronia toru
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Subfamily: Persoonioideae
Tribe: Persoonieae
Genus: Toronia
L.A.S.Johnson & B.G.Briggs
Species:
T. toru
Binomial name
Toronia toru

Toronia is a genus of tree in the family Proteaceae that contains a single species, Toronia toru, which is endemic to New Zealand. The genus is closely related to the large genus Persoonia, and in fact this species was long regarded as one until placed in its own new genus by Lawrie Johnson and Barbara G. Briggs in their 1975 monograph "On the Proteaceae: the evolution and classification of a southern family".[1]

However, phylogenetic studies indicate that Toronia is nested in the larger genus Persoonia,[2] where it was once included.

Toronia toru is an evergreen tree found in the northern half of the North Island and is one of only two members of the protea family occurring in New Zealand.[3]

Toronia toru grows to 7 – 11 metres and has long slender green leaves, small yellow flowers, and red to dark purple-blue fleshy fruits.

  1. ^ L. A. S. Johnson and Briggs, B. G. (1975). "On the Proteaceae: the evolution and classification of a southern family". Journal of the Linnean Society of London. Botany. 70 (2): 83–182. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.1975.tb01644.x.
  2. ^ Holmes, G. D., Weston, P. H., Murphy, D. J., Connelly, C., & Cantrill, D. J. (2018). The genealogy of geebungs: phylogenetic analysis of Persoonia (Proteaceae) and related genera in subfamily Persoonioideae. Australian Systematic Botany, 31(2), 166-189.
  3. ^ "Country, Farm & Garden - Agricultural & Horticultural Stock Photo Specialists". Retrieved 2011-07-12.