White maire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White maire |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Nestegis
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| Species: |
lanceolata
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Nestegis lanceolata, also known as white maire, is a special tree that grows only in New Zealand. It's a native tree, meaning it has always lived there.
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Discover the White Maire Tree
White maire is a strong and beautiful tree. It is known for its very hard wood. This wood was important to the Māori, the first people of New Zealand.
Where Does White Maire Grow?
You can find white maire trees in many places across the North Island of New Zealand. They like to grow in forests, from lowlands to hilly areas. In the South Island, white maire is not as common. However, you can still spot it in the Marlborough Sounds region.
What Does White Maire Look Like?
The white maire tree can grow quite tall, reaching about 15 metres high. That's like a five-story building!
- Its leaves are long, usually 5 to 12 centimetres.
- The leaves feel leathery and have a shiny, glossy surface.
- In spring, the tree produces small, green flowers. These flowers grow in clusters called Racemes.
- After the flowers, the tree grows small red fruits. Each fruit is about 1 centimetre long.
How Māori People Used White Maire
The wood from the white maire tree is one of the hardest native timbers in New Zealand. Because it was so strong, the Māori people used it for many important things.
- They made tools and weapons from the wood.
- Different types of digging sticks were crafted. These were used for gathering food and for gardening.
- The strong timber was also used to build parts of their storage houses. These beams helped make the buildings sturdy.
