1. It grows in disturbed forest habitat dominated by " Metrosideros polymorpha ". 2. The only known specimens were collected from white rt ( " Metrosideros perforata " ). 3. In captivity " Achatinella " feed on fungus growing on leaves of " Metrosideros polymorpha ". 4. The larvae probably feed on lichens on the bark of " Cheirodendron " and " Metrosideros ". 5. The strangler fig and the northern rt ( " Metrosideros robusta " ) of New Zealand are examples of this. 6. Lhi'a Lehua, Metrosideros polymorpha, is a Hawaiian plant with roots that can grow suspended in extinct lava tubes. 7. Other unique species include " Metrosideros boninensis ", a plant related to similar species growing in Fiji and New Caledonia. 8. This is a small tree which grows in " Metrosideros polymorpha " and " Acacia koa " dominated petioles. 9. Prior to the discovery of these fossils, there has been no record of the genus " Metrosideros " in Australia. 10. Why and when " Metrosideros " should have become extinct in Australia, yet survived elsewhere in the Pacific is unknown.
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