Podocarpus totara

Podocarpus totara (from the Maori-language tōtara; the spelling "totara" is also common in English) is a species of podocarp tree endemic to New Zealand. It grows throughout the North Island and northeastern South Island in lowland, montane and lower subalpine forest at elevations of up to 600 m.

For other plant species also known as tōtara, see List of plants known as tōtara.

Tōtara

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Podocarpaceae
Genus: Podocarpus
Species:
P. totara
Binomial name
Podocarpus totara

Tōtara is commonly found in lowland areas where the soil is fertile and well drained.[2]

Description

The tōtara is a medium to large tree which grows slowly to around 20 to 25 m, exceptionally to 35 m; it is noted for its longevity and the great girth of its trunk. The bark peels off in papery flakes, with a purplish to golden brown hue. The sharp, dull green needle-like leaves are stiff and leathery, 2 cm long. This plant produces highly modified cones with 2 to 4 fused, fleshy berry-like juicy scales, bright red when mature. The cone contains one or two rounded seeds at the apex of the scales.

Largest known living tōtara, the Pouakani Tree

The largest known living tōtara, the Pouakani Tree, near Pureora in the central North Island is over 35 meters tall and nearly 4 meters in trunk diameter at breast height. Bushmen discovered it in 1950.[3] Other large trees are known in this area, while Whirinaki forest, to the east, but also on deep recent volcanic soils, has groves of very tall tōtara (over 40m in height).

Tōtara is often found regenerating on farmland as it is not eaten by livestock.[2]

Varieties

There are two varieties of tōtara:[4]

  • Podocarpus totara var. totara
  • Podocarpus totara var. waihoensis

In a classic example of Antarctic flora species-pair the tōtara is very closely related to Podocarpus nubigenus from South America, to the extent that if planted together, they are very difficult to distinguish. The best distinction is the grey-green tone of the leaves, compared to the slightly brighter green of P. nubigenus.

Cultivation
Trunk of a tōtara tree (Podocarpus totara) in Prouse Bush, Levin, New Zealand

Tōtara grows easily from fresh seed and cuttings.[5] It has been planted in the United Kingdom as far north as Inverewe, Scotland.[6]

Several cultivars for garden use have been introduced. These include 'Albany Gold' and 'Aurea', both have which have yellow gold foliage that darkens in winter; 'Pendula', which has a weeping growth habit that is especially pronounced in young plants; 'Silver Falls', also pendulous but with cream-edged foliage; and 'Matapouri Blue', which has a conical form and glaucous foliage.

Human use

The wood is hard, straight-grained and very resistant to rot, especially its heartwood. Due to its durability, tōtara wood was often used for fence posts, floor pilings and railway sleepers. It is also prized for its carving properties, and was the primary wood used in Māori carving. It was the primary wood used to make waka in traditional Maori boat building due to its relatively light weight (about 25% lighter than kauri), long straight lengths and natural oils in the wood which help prevent rotting. Tōtara could be drilled with chert points to make holes near the edges of the timber without splitting. In larger tōtara waka, three or more sections were laced together with flax rope. A tōtara waka took at least a year to make using stone adzes.

Bark from tōtara is used to cover and protect traditional pōhā bags.[7]

  • Receptacle and seed of tōtara
  • The reddish-grey bark of the tōtara is thick, corky, furrowed and stringy
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References
  1. Farjon, A. (2013). "Podocarpus totara". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T42537A2985842. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42537A2985842.en.
  2. "Story: Conifers – Tōtara group". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  3. "News of the Day GISBORNE HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 Oct 1950. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  4. Eagle, Audrey (2008). Eagle's complete trees and shrubs of New Zealand volume one. Wellington: Te Papa Press. p. 8. ISBN 9780909010089.
  5. "Podocarpus totara var. totara". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  6. "Half-hardy trees in Britain and Ireland – part two" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  7. "Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua: Māori Plant Use". Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
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