About Montigena novae-zelandiae (Hook.f.) Heenan
Montigena is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family Fabaceae. The genus contains only one species: Montigena novae-zelandiae, commonly known as the scree pea. This dicotyledonous herb is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Montigena novae-zelandiae is a small woody plant. It grows from thin, branched stems that emerge at the surface from a deeply buried rootstock. Its flowers range in color from purple to brown, and its fruits develop between January and April. Before 1998, this species was classified as Swainsona novae-zelandiae. In 1998, the new genus Montigena was established based on this plant's morphological features. Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, M. novae-zelandiae is classified as "At Risk - Declining". Its population is projected to decline by 10% to 50%, from a current population of 20,000 to 100,000 mature plants. The species is currently sparse, and it suffers from recruitment failures. Montigena is one of four native legume genera native to New Zealand. The other three native New Zealand legume genera are Carmichaelia, Clianthus, and Sophora.
