Clianthus puniceus, common name kaka beak (Kōwhai Ngutu-kākā in Māori), is a species of flowering plant in the genus Clianthus of the legume family Fabaceae, native to New Zealand's North Island. Description Clianthus puniceus is an evergreen shrub, one of two species of Clianthus, both of which have striking clusters of red, tubular flowers resembling the beak of the kākā, a New Zealand parrot. The plant is also known as parrot's beak, parrot's bill and lobster claw. There is also a variety with white to creamy coloured flowers. Not only does the species have striking red flowers, but it also has foliage which are often similar to those seen on tourist souvenirs and exemplify the New Zealand flora. The species can grow up to 3 meters tall, but generally grows to around with spreading branches producing leaf stalks up to long bearing 10-15 pairs of oblong leaflets. Not to be confused with C. maximus that has glossy leaves, the leaves of C. puniceus are matte, due to its cuticle having a dense reticulum of buttressed ridges on the adaxial surface. It has pinnate leaves, and 6–8 cm long raceme flowers. The flowers have an upright petal, two wing petals that are lateral, ad a downward keel petal. Populations of Clianthus puniceus in the wild are rare and are only composed of a few plants. They can be found on cliffs, bluffs, or margins of bodies of water. The Latin specific epithet puniceus refers to the reddish-purple colour of the flowers. Reproduction Clianthus puniceus are perfect flowers with a superior ovary and 10 stamens. It usually flowers from spring through to early summer, but can flower twice a year or even year round, and the amount of flowering vary each year. The species has a cuticle that covers it's stigma from early bud until flower for protection, and inhibits pollination when intact. Pollination can only occur with the rupture of the cuticle, which occurs naturally at flower senescence. It has however been found that it does rupture frequently prior to senescence. The cuticle is beneficial as it protects against as self-pollination and increases the changes of cross- pollination. However, even though a cross-pollination system is present, the observed small gene pool suggests that self-pollination occurs most often and is prevalent. This inbreeding could cause issues regarding localized bottlenecks as it's occurring in small populations. When the time comes for self-pollination, the