Similar to some other Dracophyllum species, it has a candelabra-shaped canopy; long, thin, green leaves; and a prominent pyramid-shaped inflorescence.
Its leaves, which concentrate at the ends of branches like species in the family Bromeliaceae, are 9–86 by 1.7–5 cm (3.5–33.9 by 0.7–2.0 in), leathery, and very finely toothed such that there are 18 to 20 teeth every 10 mm (0.4 in).
[3] Plants which grow at the upper reaches of the tree line have a grey wax on their leaves, as well as change colour during Winter from green to a reddish-purple, as a result of anthocyanins.
It is covered in inflorescence bracts (modified leaves) which are 130–240 by 25–50 mm (5.12–9.45 by 0.98–1.97 in) and light green with a white colour at their base and pink at the tip.
acerosum D. densum D. filifolium D. kirkii D. ophioliticum D. patens D. rosmarinifolium D. trimorphum D. arboreum D. longifolium D. muscoides D. pronum D. scoparium D. strictum D. fiordense D. menziesii D. latifolium D. townsonii D. traversii other Dracophyllum spp.
He described it as "Much the largest species of the genus," and designated the type specimen as one he and J. Haast had collected 914 m (3000 ft) above sea level on the Arthur's pass in the province of Nelson, 1865.
[2][9] One 1987 study on the flora of north-west Nelson claimed the only visible difference between D. traversii and D. pyramidale was a wax on the surface of the leaves of D.
[10] Stephanus Venter revised the genus in 2021, maintaining the synonymy of D. pyramidale, citing the 1994 "Trees and Shrubs of New Zealand," and describing the latter as simply a more robust form of D. traversii, with a lower altitude habitat and sheaths and inflorescences of varying lengths.
[3][4] D. traversii's placement within the genus Dracophyllum was first attempted by Walter Oliver in a 1928 article of the Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand.
Later, in 1952, he revised his work in a supplement, placing it in the subgenus Dracophyllum (referred to as Eudracophyllum) and in a group with D. latifolium, though basing his research purely on morphological characteristics.
Common areas it can be found on include: gorges, mountainsides, saddles, and cliffs, and it prefers full sun, though will also grow in some shade.
[1] D. traversii inhabits lowland and subalpine shrubland, consisting of either simply Olearia lacunosa (lancewood tree daisy); or Olearia colensoi (tupare), D. longifolium (inaka), and Coprosma; or just Nothofagus menziesii (silver beech), as well as lowland and subalpine forests, made up of several types.
Kea were found to feed on D. traversii during the winter, mainly eating the young foliage and shoot apices, which are also eaten by an unidentified larva.
Because it is deciduous the area under trees is often covered with leaf litter, in some places to 10 cm (4 in) or more deep, which prohibits the growth of other plants.
Typically leaves are shed after six years and full growth takes 2 – 3 growing seasons, with each occurring from around September to April.
[13] Germination of seeds is generally sporadic, Haase managed to attain an 80% success rate and time of just 18 days, though only after 6–8 weeks of moist 4˚C storage.