Metrosideros collina

Metrosideros collina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Metrosideros
Species:	M. collina
Binomial name
Metrosideros collina (J.R Forst. & G.Forst.) A.Gray
Synonyms
Leptospermum collinum J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.

M. collina var villosa in Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Hobart

Metrosideros collina is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae. It is native to French Polynesia and the Cook Islands.

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by botanist Johann Reinhold Forster and his son Georg Forster in 1775. It was given the name Leptospermum collinum.

There are two varieties:

• Metrosideros collina var. collina
• Metrosideros collina var. villosa

Cultivars

Cultivar 'Tahiti'

Cultivars of Metrosideros collina are used as ornamental plants, for planting in tropical and subtropical climate gardens. Cultivars include:

• 'Tahiti', grows to about 1 metre,
• 'Tahitian sunset', a mutated form of 'Tahiti' with variegated leaves