Piper excelsum (Kawakawa) Piper = pepper and excelsum = tall. Kawa = bitter. A few metres high in lowland bush, kawakawa is endemic to NZ. Recognition features of kawakawa: heart-shaped leaves with a palmate vein pattern leaf petiole is flattened at the base leaves often have holes, caused by a nocturnal looper caterpillar male andContinue reading “Know the native trees in Tawa reserves with Gil Roper – Kawakawa”
Category Archives: Trees and Shrubs
Know the native tree species in Tawa reserves with Gil Roper – Kohekohe trees in winter
This is sometimes called ‘the funkiest tree’ in our native bush, with its white flowers in winter that grow directly from the trunk. The flowers provide a nectar source for tūī and korimako (bellbirds) at a time when other food is not as abundant. In some years, a strong sweet aroma is evident in theContinue reading “Know the native tree species in Tawa reserves with Gil Roper – Kohekohe trees in winter”
Know the native tree species in Tawa reserves with Gil Roper – Mamaku or Ponga?
Two of our most common NZ tree ferns, are both prevalent in the Tawa native bush reserves. Mamaku Our tallest tree fern, reaching up to 20m, mamaku (black tree fern/Cyathea medullaris) has distinctively black, scale covered koru as the fronds unfurl.The fronds extend up to 5m and can be as thick as a human armContinue reading “Know the native tree species in Tawa reserves with Gil Roper – Mamaku or Ponga?”
Know the native tree species in Tawa reserves with Gil Roper – Kanono
Kanono or Coprosma autumnalis –—- previously named C. grandifolia –—- Kanono is a common shrub, up to 6m found in shady, damp and sheltered parts of all the native bush reserves in Tawa. Recognition features of kanono: plants are dioecious (have separate male and female plants). Male flowers have dangling stamens that produce pollen while female flowersContinue reading “Know the native tree species in Tawa reserves with Gil Roper – Kanono”
Tawa trees – a vintage year for the fruit
Tawa trees dominate our native bush reserves and in late 2020 and early 2021, the fruit production has been prolific – far more than in recent years. The oval purple/black fruit are obvious on the ground. Tawa seed are difficult to germinate and especially progress further to seedlings and then young trees. They are veryContinue reading “Tawa trees – a vintage year for the fruit”
Did you see this? A yellow flowered pohutukawa tree in Tawa
December brings a greater awareness of pohutukawa trees (Metrosideros excelsa) due to the bright red-coloured flowers. However, a tree near 300 Main Road, Tawa had distinctly yellow flowers. Some trees can have white, pink or yellow-coloured flowers. However, apart from the flower colour, the other features of the tree are typically the same as theContinue reading “Did you see this? A yellow flowered pohutukawa tree in Tawa”
Have you observed lemonwood trees recently?
Aromatic smell Lemonwood or tarata (Pittosporum eugenioides) is common throughout the margins of the Tawa bush reserves. However, it is also growing in the community itself, (eg adjacent to the Tawa Squash Courts). Tarata is conspicuous at this time of year because of the aromatic, cream-coloured flowers These flowers, as well as the crushed leaves,Continue reading “Have you observed lemonwood trees recently?”
Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves 