Mikoikoi

Libertia grandiflora is a species of perennial herb in the family Iridaceae and the subfamily Iridoideae. It reaches 0.6–0.9 metres (2 feet 0 inches – 2 feet 11 inches) in height. Its leaves are long and narrow, about 100–1400 mm × 2–12 mm long, 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 10–50 mm long. Its bracts are 40–130 mm long. Flowers are 10–30 mm wide, with white-coloured tepals. Its stamens are found at the base, with yellow anthers which are about 3 mm long. Fruits are found in yellow-coloured, pear-shaped seed capsules, which are 6–14 × 4–8 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.

L. grandiflora is endemic to New Zealand. Its range covers the North Island, where it is widespread from North Cape to Wellington, although the plant appears to be absent on the Volcanic Plateau. In the South Island, according to Moore (1967), the plant is not known to grow south of the Nelson and Marlborough Regions. Blanchon et al. (2002) described the South Island species as Libertia mooreae, as such, researchers claim that there are taxonomically no true L. grandiflora specimens in the South Island. L. grandiflora's 2023 assessment in the New Zealand Threat Classification System was "Not Threatened".

Habitat. L. grandiflora inhabits lowland to montane forests; it typically occurs in open lowland forest fragments on steep slopes, ridgelines, bluffs, cliffs, and the banks or terraces of rivers and streams. It is also occasionally found on dry sunny banks. L. grandiflora prefers sites with partial shade. It commonly coincides with various endemic New Zealand plants, such as Kunzea ericoides and Podocarpus totara.

Libertia species are pollinated by insects, although L. grandiflora is capable of self-pollination. Its seeds are likely dispersed by the wind.

The etymology (word origin) of L. grandiflora'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), grandiflora, derives from Latin, meaning 'large flowered'. The species is commonly known as mikoikoi and New Zealand iris.