Pseudopanax colensoi

Pseudopanax colensoi is a shrub that can often grow into a small canopy tree that has big glossy yellowish green leaves with purplish stalks. Each leaflet measures 12–25 cm long and around 5–10 cm wide or more. With large spreading branches and compound petiole leaves, Pseudopanax colensoi can grow up to around 8 meters tall. A cluster of whiteish-green flowers grow in clusters of 10–15 that look like little umbrellas. The clusters grow into bigger clusters on the purplish stalks of the plant as they grow. The flowers then produce fruit that is either all male or all females. Female fruit is much darker in colour and less than 1 cm in diameter. Pseudopanax colensoi is commonly known as the mountain fivefinger because it looks like a hand since it has five leaves. The middle leaf of the Pseudopanax colensoi is the longest, resembling an index finger, and the leaves get smaller from there resembling the thumb and pinky finger on the human hand. == Range ==

Natural global range Pseudopanax colensoi is endemic to New Zealand. Between the years 2004–2017, Pseudopanax colensoi has not been a threatened species. There are currently three subspecific taxa in New Zealand for Pseudopanax colensoi. Pseudopanax colensoi naturally occurs around New Zealand. Throughout the Nelson and Marlborough regions the Pseudopanax colensoi occurs from sea level up to over 1,200 m above sea level. It is a common species that does extremely well in New Zealand's various climates. New Zealand range Pseudopanax colensoi is a common species in New Zealand and is found all over the country but more commonly in some specific areas. There are Pseudopanax colensoi populations located throughout New Zealand, particularly in and around the Otago, Dunedin area on the east coast of the South Island and south of Banks Peninsula in Canterbury. It is occasionally found in the North Island along the Coromandel Range. Pseudopanax colensoi var. colensoi is seemingly absent from the West Coast of the South Island. == Habitat ==

Pseudopanax colensoi has certain preferred habitats. Pseudopanax colensoi var. colensoi is found in mountainous areas between 300 and 800 meters above sea level and low alpine forests and scrubland, == Ecology ==

Life cycle and phenology The most common form of plant dispersal is through either wind, water, or animals. Different plants disperse their seeds further away from it or drop their seeds onto an animal so it can move around and give the seeds a better survival chance. For Pseudopanax colensoi the phenology of germination for the seed is very important. The seed needs the soil to be at a cold temperature and a little bit damp for 1–3 months which gives the seed a better germination rate which occurs within those 1–3 months. Pseudopanax colensoi seeds take around 6 months to germinate because it needs the correct temperatures. Different species like a different amount of water; some Neopanax species like dry soils and others tolerate wet soils. Pseudopanax colensoi doesn't mind either wet soils or dry soils as long as the environmental conditions are right.. Deer particularly sought after different varieties of Pseudopanax colensoi . Deer strip all the bark off Pseudopanax colensoi, affecting its strength and causing it to become brittle and break. Most Pseudopanax colensoi become leafless and die but those over often remain untouched by red deer. Pseudopanax colensoi lives in areas that vary depending on rainfall, sunlight, oceanic climate, wind, and snow. In these varied climates, there is a huge range of predators that can affect Pseudopanax colensoi. In different areas some predators that would disturb Pseudopanax colensoi would be common predators such as possums, rats, wasps, wild goats, hedgehogs, and ants (Animal pests and threats A-Z). These pests cause great disturbance to the Pseudopanax colensoi and the ecosystems that they live in. ==References==