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Story: Ecoregions

Poor Knights lily

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Poor Knights lily

The Poor Knights lily (Xeronema callistemon) is one of the few species endemic to the Poor Knights Islands. For the most part, the islands’ proximity to the North Island (24 kilometres away) has fostered plant dispersal from the mainland. Islands that are further away have more endemic species.

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Department of Conservation

Reference: 10055449

by Mike Aviss

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How to cite this page

Matt McGlone, Ecoregions – The northerly islands, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/12559/poor-knights-lily (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Matt McGlone, published 1 March 2009.