Beilschmiedia tawa

taxobox
name = Tawa


regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Magnoliids
ordo = Laurales
familia = Lauraceae
genus = "Beilschmiedia"
species = "B. tawa"
binomial = "Beilschmiedia tawa"
binomial_authority = (A.Cunn.) Kirk|

name for the tree.

Tawa trees produce small inconspicuous flowers followed by 2 - 3.5 cm long fruit of a dark red plum colour. With such large fruits the Tawa is notable for the fact that it relies solely on the Kererū (New Zealand Woodpigeon) and, (where present), the North Island Kōkako for dispersal of its seed. These are the only remaining birds from New Zealand's original biota large enough to eat the fruits of this tree and pass the seeds through their guts and excrete them unharmed. Tawa can also support significant epiphyte gardens in their canopies, which are one of the few habitats known to be frequented by the enigmatic, arboreal Striped skink.

This tree gives its name to a northern suburb of Wellington, Tawa.

Uses

One of the few hardwood trees in the country with good timber, the wood of this tree can be used for attractive and resilient floorboarding. Although largely protected in conservation areas and by robust environmental legislation, licences are occasionally granted for the odd fallen tree to be milled for its timber.

ee also

*Taraire

External links

*cite web |author=Knowles, Barbara and A. E. Beveridge|date=1982|title=Biological flora of New Zealand 9: "Beilschmiedia tawa" |work=New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1982, Vol. 20 : 37-54 |url=http://www.rsnz.org/publish/nzjb/1982/4.pdf|accessdate=2007-06-05
*cite web |author=Kelly, Dave|date=1987|title=Slow Recovery of "Bielschmiedia tawa" after severe frosts in inland Taranaki, New Zealand |work=New Zealand Journal of Ecology 10:137:140 |url=http://www.nzes.org.nz/nzje/free_issues/NZJEcol10_137.pdf|accessdate=2007-06-05

References

*H.H. Allan, 1961. "Flora of New Zealand" Vol. 1. Government printer.
*J. Dawson and R. Lucas, 2000. "Nature guide to the New Zealand Forest". Godwit.
*W. Mary McEwen, 1978.cite web |title=The food of the New Zealand Pigeon ("Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae") |work=New Zealand Journal of Ecology, Vol 1: 99-108, p99 |url=http://www.nzes.org.nz/nzje/free_issues/NZJEcol1_99.pdf |accessdate=2007-06-29
*A. E. Wright, 1984. cite web |title="Beilschmiedia" Nees (Lauraceae) in New Zealand |work=New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1984, Vol. 22: 109-125 |url= http://www.rsnz.org/publish/nzjb/1984/10.pdf |accessdate=2007-06-29