Where does Kahikatea grow NZ?

These trees are endemic to the islands of New Zealand. They can be found on all three main islands (north, south, and Stewart Island). These trees grow in the podocarp/broadleaf forests and are most common in lowland, swampy areas, growing up to 500 meters in elevation.

Is Kahikatea native to NZ?

Kahikatea is a native softwood, favoured for amenity and wetland restoration. It is found throughout New Zealand, tolerates cold and grows to altitudes of 600-700 m but is most commonly found in wet lowland forests.

What does kahikatea stand for?

Definition of kahikatea : a New Zealand evergreen tree (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides synonym Podocarpus dacrydioides) valued for its light soft easily worked wood, its resin, and the sweet edible aril surrounding its seed. — called also white pine.

What is white pine NZ?

The kahikatea (white pine) is our tallest native tree. It is found throughout New Zealand and often in swampy areas. The leaves change form as the tree grows. Male cones and female ovules form on the tips of the branchlets but on separate trees.

How do kahikatea reproduce?

Reproduction. Pollen and seeds are produced by male and female trees respectively. Seeds take about 18 months to ripen. Each black seed sits on a red, fleshy receptacle which is eaten by birds or falls to the ground.

How tall is the kahikatea tree?

At 66.5 m, this is the tallest recorded native tree in New Zealand.

Are kahikatea berries edible?

Kahikatea berries (1st of 4) The edible berries of the kahikatea tree were known as koroī.

How long do kahikatea trees live?

550–650 years
A life-span of 550–650 years is more common, as old trees become susceptible to uprooting in strong winds. Seedlings will not grow in deep shade or on open, exposed sites. Mature trees often support a crop of perching plants on their upper branches.

How do rimu trees reproduce?

This tree is a podocarp, which is a type of conifer. Thus, it produces cones in order to reproduce. Unlike many conifer trees, male and female cones are on separate Rimu trees. The pollen is blown from the male pollen cones to another tree with female cones, where if lucky it will be fertilized.

Where do Matai grow?

Mataī (Prumnopitys taxifolia) grows to 30 metres tall and the trunk to 2 metres in diameter. It is found throughout lowland forests of the North and South islands. It favours fertile, well-drained soils, and like tōtara can grow where there is low rainfall.

How long does it take a rimu tree to grow?

The recorded growth estimate over 25 years of 4 cmlyear and a survival of 22% provides a “rule of thumb” for natural rimu seedlings in lowland forest conditions. This suggests that it will take around 35 years for a rimu seedling to grow into sapling size (above 1.4 m height).