Pterophylla racemosa
| Kāmahi | |
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| Species: | W. racemosa
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| Binomial name | |
| Weinmannia racemosa | |
Kāmahi (Weinmannia racemosa), a medium-sized tree of the family Cunoniaceae, is a very common tree in New Zealand, occurring in lowland, montane, and subalpine forests and shrubland from the central North Island south to Stewart Island.
According to the 1966 Encyclopedia of New Zealand, it is 'the most abundant forest tree in New Zealand'.[1] Sometimes beginning life as an epiphyte on the trunks of tree ferns, kāmahi attains its greatest height of 25 or more metres in the Catlins forests of the south-eastern South Island. It has small creamy-white flowers in erect clusters. Kāmahi generally occurs with other broadleaf trees, at times acting as a pioneer species which is eventually succeeded by the southern beeches (Nothofagus spp.) or podocarps. In forests to the west of the Southern Alps it grows in association with southern rātā (Metrosideros umbellata). Because the wood of kāmahi has a tendency to warp or crack, it is little used despite its abundance. A closely related tree, tōwai or tawhero (W. silvicola), replaces kāmahi in the North Island north of latitude 37°S. The tree is intended to be introduced in the Inverewe Garden in Scotland[2].
References
- ^ Poole, A. L. "Kamahi - 1966 Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Retrieved 2007-06-19.
- ^ [http:://www.royalcaledonianhorticulturalsociety.org/journal2005/cg2005_5.pdf "Weinmannia racemosa intended to be introduced in the Inverewe Garden in Scotland"] (PDF).
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Further reading
- Metcalf, Laurie, 2002. A Photographic Guide to Trees of New Zealand. Tāmaki-makau-rau: New Holland.
- Salmon, J.T., 1986. The Native Trees of New Zealand. Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara: Heinneman Reed.
External links
- "Weinmannia racemosa". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- "Weinmannia racemosa". Flora of New Zealand. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- Ecological zones of Oceania; includes information about Weinmannia racemosa
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