Mikoikoi

Libertia ixioides is a species of perennial herb in the family Iridaceae and the subfamily Iridoideae. It reaches 0.6 metres (2 feet 0 inches) in height. Its leaves reach 550–1160 mm × 3–12 mm long, they also can turn to a yellow colour when exposed to sunlight. Its margins are often finely rough (scabrid) in texture. The inflorescences (flower clusters) are tall and rise above the foliage, with long peduncles. Its panicles are broad and openly branched. Each panicle has 1 to 6 flowers with slender pedicels, which are about 10– mm long. Its bracts are 50–410 mm long. Flowers are 8–15 mm in diameter, with white-coloured tepals. Its stamens are found at the base, with yellow anthers which are about 2 mm long. Fruits are found in yellow-coloured, pear-shaped seed capsules, which are 15–25 × 5–14 mm long, initially green maturing to black, splitting open at maturity with often widely recurved valves. Its seeds are a bright tangerine-orange colour, 1–2 mm long, and rounded or angular in character.

Libertia ixioides is endemic to New Zealand. Its range covers the North, South, and Stewart Islands. Cheeseman (1906) claimed that the species is also present on the Chatham Islands, but recent assessments of Libertia dispute this, and argue that the species does not naturally occur on the Chatham Islands. In the North Island, L. ixioides is widespread from North Cape to Wellington, except it is naturally not common in the East Cape (in the Gisborne District). L. ixioides is common throughout the South Island. L. ixioides is also present on Stewart Island. L. ixioides's 2023 assessment in the New Zealand Threat Classification System was "Not Threatened".

Habitat. Libertia grandiflora inhabits coastal to montane areas. The species typically occurs in upland forests, cliffs, gullies, ridgelines, and the banks of rivers. L. ixioides is often found in rocky environments, especially in the South Island. It has been recorded growing epiphytically (on other plants) in certain locations in the North Island. It occurs from sea level to 610 m (2,000 ft) above sea level. It prefers areas with sun or partial shade. It commonly coincides with various endemic New Zealand plants, such as Coprosma robusta and Phormium tenax.

Libertia species are pollinated by insects, and its seeds are likely dispersed by the wind. A 1993 study of the diet of introduced goats in New Zealand reported that they consumed L. ixioides in moderate quantities compared with other species studied. L. ixioides is known to play host to 'leafminer weevils' of the genus Microcryptorhynchus, which chew the leaves.

The etymology (word origin) of L. ixioides's genus name, Libertia, is named in honour of the Belgian botanist and writer Marie-Anne Libert. The specific epithet (second part of the scientific name), ixioides, refers to the species resemblance to Ixia species. The species is commonly known as mikoikoi and New Zealand iris. L. ixioides has several other Māori names, recorded by Herbert Williams, including: mānga-a-huripapa, tūrutu, and tūkāuki.