Story: Shrublands

Adaptive leaf forms – leathery leaves (1st of 4)

Adaptive leaf forms – leathery leaves

The coastal shrub akiraho (Olearia paniculata) has rough, leathery leaves whose undersides are covered with a dense layer of whitish woolly hairs. This protects the leaves from losing too much water through transpiration, and insulates them against solar radiation and cold winds.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Photograph by Melanie Lovell-Smith

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How to cite this page:

Maggy Wassilieff, 'Shrublands - New Zealand’s shrublands and scrub', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/14519/adaptive-leaf-forms-leathery-leaves (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 24 Sep 2007