Pukatea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pukatea |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Laurelia
|
| Species: |
novae-zelandiae
|
Laurelia novae-zelandiae, also known as pukatea, is a big evergreen tree. It is only found in the forests of New Zealand. Pukatea trees have leaves with 'teeth' along their edges and grow small flowers. This tree is part of a plant family called Atherospermataceae.
Contents
Where Pukatea Trees Grow
Pukatea trees mostly grow in the low-lying forests of New Zealand. You can find them all over the North Island and in the top part of the South Island. They especially like places with lots of moisture, like damp forests, valleys, and along the sides of streams.
Pukatea can grow well in wet soil, but it also does fine on hillsides. It needs a warm climate that doesn't get too cold. The best places for it are frost-free, with warm summers. It grows best in soil that drains well, is a little bit acidic, and has lots of natural plant matter.
What Pukatea Trees Look Like
Pukatea trees grow slowly and can reach up to 130 feet (40 meters) tall, though they are usually around 115 feet (35 meters). This is the only native New Zealand tree that grows large, flat supports at its base. These supports, called buttress roots, help the tree stand strong in swampy or shallow soil.
Pukatea also has special roots called pneumatophores. These roots help the tree breathe in very wet ground or mud. The trees have a nice smell and are common in the lower parts of tropical rainforests.
The pukatea tree has thin bark and a pale brownish-grey trunk. Its dark green, shiny leaves are about 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) long. They have rough, jagged edges and are paler on the underside. The leaves grow in pairs opposite each other on the stem.
Pukatea Flowers and Fruit
Pukatea is mostly a dioecious species. This means that male and female flowers usually grow on different trees. However, some trees might have a few female or mixed flowers too.
The flowers are tiny and hard to see. They grow in small clusters. These star-shaped flowers are whitish and have yellow, shiny glands. These glands produce a sweet liquid called nectar. The nectar attracts many insects like bees and blowflies, as well as small animals.
After the flowers, the tree grows small, pear-shaped fruits. These fruits contain many tiny seeds. Each seed has fine, feathery strands that help the wind carry them away. Often, only a few of these seeds can actually grow into new trees.
Uses of Pukatea
In the past, the wood of the pukatea tree was very useful. It is light but strong. Māori people used this timber to make special carvings for their canoes. The wood is quite soft but very tough. It's a pale yellowish hardwood that is hard to split. Instead of breaking, it tends to dent when hit. The wood has a fine texture and clear growth rings.
An extract from the tree's bark contains a substance called pukateine. This was used in traditional Māori medicine to help with pain. The soft inner part of the bark was boiled in water. The liquid from this was then used to treat illnesses like tuberculosis.
See also
In Spanish: Pukatea para niños
