Taraire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taraire |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Beilschmiedia
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| Species: |
tarairi
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| Synonyms | |
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Laurus tarairi A.Cunn. |
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The Beilschmiedia tarairi, often called taraire, is a special tree. It belongs to the Lauraceae family, which includes plants like bay laurel. This tree only grows in the North Island of New Zealand. You can often find taraire trees in lowland forests, especially north of Auckland. They usually grow alongside other native trees like kauri (Agathis australis), pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa), tawapou (Pouteria costata), and puriri (Vitex lucens). These trees often grow on rocky ground made of basalt. Beilschmiedia is a group of about 40 different trees and shrubs. Most of them grow in tropical areas. Their leaves can grow in different ways, either one after another or directly opposite each other on the stem.
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Where Does the Taraire Tree Grow?
Taraire trees are only found in the North Island of New Zealand. They grow north of a line called 38°S latitude. You will see them most often north of Auckland and Thames, around 37°S latitude. However, some smaller groups of taraire trees also grow in other places. On the west coast, they are found between Port Waikato and the Kawhia Harbour. Inland, you can find them at Pukemokemoke. On the east coast, they appear in different spots all the way to East Cape.
What Does the Taraire Tree Look Like?
The taraire tree can grow very tall, up to 22 meters high. That's about as tall as a seven-story building! It also has a very wide top, called a crown. The trunk can be as wide as 1 meter across. Its bark is dark brown and feels smooth. The branches are strong and spread out widely.
Young parts of the tree, like new branches, young leaves, and flower buds, are covered in tiny reddish-brown hairs. The leaves are dark green and feel like leather. They are usually between 50 and 72 millimeters long and 34 to 48 millimeters wide. The veins on the leaves are pressed down, which makes them easy to spot. The leaf stems are 8 to 12 millimeters long.
Taraire Flowers and Fruit
The flowers grow in upright clusters called panicles, up to 100 millimeters long. These clusters grow from where the leaves meet the stem. Taraire trees bloom between September and December, with the most flowers appearing in November. The flowers are greenish and small, about 3 to 5 millimeters wide. They often have many reddish-brown hairs on them.
The fruit of the taraire is a special type of fruit called a drupe. It stands upright and is shaped like an oval, about 30 by 16 millimeters. When the fruit is ripe, it turns a dark purple color and has a waxy coating. Each fruit holds one seed inside. The fruit ripens between March and November. It is a favorite food for the kererū, also known as the New Zealand pigeon.
Taraire is a very unique tree. Its wide, dark-green leaves with their special pressed-down veins, and its large, upright, plum-like dark purple fruits make it stand out. You can easily tell it apart from other native trees and shrubs in New Zealand.
Other Beilschmiedia Trees in New Zealand
Taraire is one of three Beilschmiedia species that only grow in New Zealand. The other two are:
- Tawa (B. tawa): This is a common tree with thin, willow-like leaves.
- Tawaroa (B. tawaroa): This tree is similar to tawa but has wider leaves.
How Taraire Trees Grow and Are Protected
It's easy to grow new taraire trees from fresh seeds. The seeds grow better if you remove the fleshy part around them first. The taraire tree is not currently considered in danger. However, in the future, it might be harder for its seeds to spread. This is because the kererū pigeon is usually the only animal that can spread the large seeds of the taraire. The seeds pass through the pigeon's body without being harmed. The North Island kōkako (Callaeas wilsoni) can also spread the fruits. But these birds are now rare in the areas where taraire trees grow.
What Is Taraire Wood Used For?
The wood from the taraire tree has a straight grain. However, it can be brittle and tends to split easily. It also doesn't last long when it's exposed to weather. In the past, people used taraire wood for different things. It was used for flooring, light carts, furniture, and picture frames. It was also used for parts of ships and as firewood.
See also
In Spanish: Beilschmiedia tarairi para niños
