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What is the difference between Rata and pohutukawa?
Note that the southern rata has dark green pointed leaves and that pohutukawa has shorter rounded leaves that have a whitish velvety texture on the underside. Pohutukawa tends also to have more stamens and as a result denser and more prolific flowers.
Is pohutukawa native to New Zealand?
Pōhutukawa and rātā are known as New Zealand’s native Christmas tree because of the bright red blooms which decorate the trees during the Christmas season. They trigger memories of long summer days spent with friends and family in, on, around and under these magnificent trees.
How tall is a pohutukawa?
20m high
Mainland pohutukawa grows to 20m high with up to a 35m wide crown. The massive spreading crown; wider than tall, moulds to coastal wind and slope and spreads weight over unstable ground.
What is the pohutukawa used for?
Pohutukawa often features on festive greetings cards, poems and stories. As well as a cultural symbol, the species has several practical uses. Its hard strong timber was used for ship-building, and parts of the tree were also used medicinally by the Maori.
What is the most poisonous tree in the world?
manchineel
One of the worst untouchable species, whatever the weather, earns the dubious honour of being the world’s most dangerous tree. The manchineel (Hippomane mancinella) grows in northern South America up to the Florida Everglades and throughout the Caribbean.
What does pohutukawa symbolize?
Pohutukawa, with its striking red flowers, is an important symbol for all New Zealanders. In Maori mythology, its flowers are said to represent the blood of a young warrior who perished while trying to avenge his father’s death. Pohutukawa often features on festive greetings cards, poems and stories.
How old is the pohutukawa tree?
800-year-old
Sacred trees Possibly the most famous pōhutukawa in Maori legend is a small, wind-beaten tree clinging to the cliff face near Cape Reinga. The 800-year-old tree is reputed to guard the entrance to a sacred cave through which disembodied spirits pass on their way to the next world.
Is the pohutukawa tree endemic to New Zealand?
The pohutukawa is one of twelve Metrosideros species endemic to New Zealand. Renowned for its vibrant colour and its ability to survive even perched on rocky, precarious cliffs, it has found an important place in New Zealand culture for its strength and beauty, and is regarded as a chiefly tree ( rākau rangatira) by Māori.
What are the characteristics of a pohutukawa plant?
There are many characteristics of Pohutukawa. The characteristics make a huge difference in your garden plant choice. It is a non flowering plant. Learning about the characteristics of different plants will help you to identify them correctly. There are many characteristics of plants that makes them endlessly fascinating.
How tall does a pohutukawa fish poison tree grow?
The -hutu- part of the word comes from *futu, the Polynesian name for the fish-poison tree ( Barringtonia asiatica ), which has flowers similar to those of the pohutukawa. The pohutukawa grows up to 25 metres (82 ft) high, with a spreading, dome-like form. It usually grows as a multi-trunked spreading tree.
What kind of bug eats leaves of pohutukawa?
Damage to leaves of pohutukawa, Metrosideros excelsa, by adults of one of two species of Eucolaspis beetles (Chrysomelidae) associated with this plant. Image: Nicholas A. Martin © Plant & Food Research