Weinmannia silvicola facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tōwai, tawhero |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Weinmannia
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| Species: |
silvicola
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The Tōwai tree, also known as tawhero, is a special evergreen tree found only in the northern parts of New Zealand. Its scientific name is Weinmannia silvicola. This tree is part of a plant family called Cunoniaceae. Tōwai trees can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching over 15 meters, which is like a five-story building! Their trunks can also become very wide, up to 1 meter across.
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Discover the Tōwai Tree
The Tōwai tree is an important part of the forests in northern New Zealand. It's known for its strong wood and its beautiful flowers. Learning about trees like the Tōwai helps us understand the amazing nature around us.
What Does Tōwai Look Like?
Tōwai trees have interesting leaves that change as the tree grows older.
Leaves and Branches
When the Tōwai tree is young, its leaves are quite thin. These young leaves can have up to ten pairs of small leaf parts, called leaflets. As the tree gets older, its leaves become thicker and feel leathery. Adult leaves usually have up to five pairs of leaflets and have small teeth along their edges.
Flowers and Seeds
Tōwai trees produce many small flowers. These flowers can be pink or white. They grow in long clusters that are about 8 to 12 centimeters long. After the flowers bloom, they turn into small fruits. These fruits are like little capsules, about 4 to 5 centimeters long. When the capsules open, they release many tiny seeds. These seeds are so light that the wind can easily carry them away, helping the Tōwai tree spread to new places.
Where Does Tōwai Grow?
You can find Tōwai trees growing in forests and along the edges of forests. They live in the northern parts of New Zealand. Their home stretches from North Cape all the way south to the Waitākere Ranges, which are west of Auckland.
A tree that looks very similar to Tōwai is called Kāmahi. While Tōwai lives in the north, Kāmahi trees usually grow further south, below the 37th parallel south. This means if you are in the very north of New Zealand, you are likely seeing Tōwai, but if you go further south, you might see Kāmahi instead!
Images for kids
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Foliage
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Flowers
