- Podocarpus totara
Taxobox
name = Tōtara
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3
image_width = 220px
regnum =Plant ae
divisio =Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo =Pinales
familia =Podocarpaceae
genus = "Podocarpus "
species = "P. totara"
binomial = "Podocarpus totara"
binomial_authority =G.Benn. ex D.Don"Podocarpus totara" (tōtara) is a species of podocarp endemic to
New Zealand . It grows throughout theNorth Island and northeasternSouth Island in lowland, montane and lower subalpine forest at elevations of up to 600 m.Description
The tōtara is a medium to large
tree which grows slowly to around 20 to 25 m, exceptionally to 35 m; it is noted for its longevity and the great girth of its trunk. Thebark peels off in papery flakes, with a purplish to golden brown hue. The sharp, dull green needle-like leaves are stiff and leathery, 2 cm long. This plant produces highly modified cones with 2 to 4 fused, fleshy berry-like juicy scales, bright red when mature. The cone contains one or two roundedseed s at the apex of the scales.The largest known living tōtara, the Pouakani Tree, near Pureora in the central north island is over 35 meters tall and nearly 4 meters in trunk diameter at breast height. Other large trees are known in this area, while Whirinaki forest, to the East, but also on deep recent volcanc soils, has groves of very tall totora (>40m in height).
Related trees
In a classic example of
Antarctic flora species-pair the tōtara is very closely related to "Podocarpus nubigenus " fromSouth America , to the extent that if planted together, they are very difficult to distinguish. The best distinction is the grey-green tone of the leaves, compared to the slightly brighter green of "P. nubigenus".Cultivation and uses
The
wood is hard and straight-grained and very resistant to rot. Due to its durability, tōtara wood was often used for fence posts, floor pilings and railway sleepers. It is also prized for its carving properties, and was the primary wood used inMāori carving. It has been planted in the United Kingdom as north as Inverewe,Scotland [cite web | url=http://www.rhs.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/831C8FEF-445C-4FA3-8951-AA257A07F238/0/halfhardytrees.pdf | title=Podocarpus totara in the United Kingdom] .Gallery
References
*
* New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, URL: [http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/vascular_plants/detail.asp?PlantID=1205 "Podocarpus totara"] . Accessed 6 June 2007.
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