FLORA
The flora of New Zealand is characteristic for having different species of unique plants and flowers highlight the southern beech and kauri forests. Containing unique and exclusive flowers and tree species is that it has evolved in isolation from humans for millions of years. Other factors that make New Zealand flora is exuberant and varied are the large amount of rain falling over the country and the number of hours of sun.
Almost 80% of the native flora of the country is endemic. Although few have showy flowers the variety of foliage color, texture, and shape is unsurpassed.
Then we will name some of the most significant species in our ecosystem study:
Almost 80% of the native flora of the country is endemic. Although few have showy flowers the variety of foliage color, texture, and shape is unsurpassed.
Then we will name some of the most significant species in our ecosystem study:
Kauri Forest
Kauri forests are not really areas where only grow Kauri, also exist Podocarps such as Rimu, Miro, Totara on the Toatoa and Tanekaha and other hardwood trees like Tawa and Taraire. The understory is dense and lush with small trees, shrubs, ferns, mosses, lichens, epiphytes and lianas. Below we will explain some of the species that are characteristics of these forests.
Kauri Trees (Agathis australis) are one of the largest trees in the world, reaching more than 50 meters high, with trunk diameter reaching 16 meters. They are totally protected species in New Zealand.
When the tree is young, has the shape of a narrow cone with branches out throughout the length of the trunk. The trunks grow straight and as they gain altitude, the lower branches are falling until finally the upper branches become an imposing crown that extends above the other trees and overlooks the forest. Breeding occurs between male and female cones on the same tree. Fertilizing seeds can be accomplished by pollen from the same or different tree. The female cones take two years to mature. The seeds have wings and the wind scatters when the cones open.
When the tree is young, has the shape of a narrow cone with branches out throughout the length of the trunk. The trunks grow straight and as they gain altitude, the lower branches are falling until finally the upper branches become an imposing crown that extends above the other trees and overlooks the forest. Breeding occurs between male and female cones on the same tree. Fertilizing seeds can be accomplished by pollen from the same or different tree. The female cones take two years to mature. The seeds have wings and the wind scatters when the cones open.
Rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum) is a large evergreen conifer endemic to the forests of New Zealand. Rimu is a slow growing tree that eventually reaches achieve heights of up to 50 m, but most of the trees that still survive are between 20 to 35 m high. The leaves are spirally arranged and in the form of spikes. The seeds are dispersed by birds which eat the fleshy scales and passing the seeds in their droppings. Is an important food source for some species, particularly the Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), whose breeding cycle has been linked to the production period of the cones of the tree.
Tanekaha (Phyllocladus trichomanoides) is a coniferous tree native to New Zealand. Tanekaha tree is a medium-sized forest that grows to a height of 20 m and can reach 1 m trunk diameter. The main structural buds are green for 2-3 years, turn brown to the extent that the crust thickens. The seed cones resemble berries with a fleshy white aril surrounding but not completely enclosing one seed.
Tawa (Beilschmiedia tawa) is a species of tree of broad leaf of common New Zealand in the central parts of the country. They can grow up to 30 m or more of height with trunks of up to 12 dm of diameter, and have the smooth dark bark. The tawa produces small uneminent flowers followed by a fruit of 2-3,5 cm of length.
Southern Beech
New Zealand has four species of southern beech (Nothofagus), which is different to beech found in the northern hemisphere.
It was long thought that beech trees had evolved from ancestral trees that had been in New Zealand when it broke away from Gondwana 85 million years ago. But recent DNA research has shown that beech species living in New Zealand today are more recent arrivals. They probably established in New Zealand from seeds carried across the sea from Antarctica or Australia.
It was long thought that beech trees had evolved from ancestral trees that had been in New Zealand when it broke away from Gondwana 85 million years ago. But recent DNA research has shown that beech species living in New Zealand today are more recent arrivals. They probably established in New Zealand from seeds carried across the sea from Antarctica or Australia.
Red Beech (Nothofagus fusca) is a species of Nothofagus, endemic to New Zealand, where it occurs on both the North Island and South Island. Generally it is found on lower hills and inland valley floors where soil is fertile and well drained. It is a medium-sized evergreen tree growing to 35 m tall. The leaves are alternately arranged, broad ovoid, 2 to 4 cm long and 1.5 to 3 cm broad, the margin distinctively double-toothed with each lobe bearing two teeth. The fruit is a small cupule containing three seeds.
Black Beech (Nothofagus solandri var. solandri) is a medium-sized evergreen tree growing to 27 m tall; the leaves are alternately arranged, ovoid, 10 mm long and 5 mm broad, with smooth margins. Mountain Beech (Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides) is smaller (20 m) and near the tree line forms a "goblin forest" where the trees are no more than 2 m tall. The leaves are more elongated and have a pointed end, while var. solandri has shorter rounder leaves.
Hard Beech (Nothofagus truncata). Its common name derives from the fact that its wood has high silica content, making it hard and difficult to saw. Hard beech is a tree up to 30m tall occurring in lowland and lower montane forest. The understory of forests populated by N. truncata may contain a variety of ferns and other understory vegetation; characteristic understory elements may include Crown Fern and Drooping Spleenwort.
Silver beech (Nothofagus menziesii) is a forest tree up to 30 m tall. The trunk, which is often buttressed, may be up to 2 m in diameter. The leaves are small, thick and almost round in shape; 6 to 15 mm long and 5 to 15 mm wide with rounded teeth which usually occur in pairs, 1 or 2 hair fringed domatia are found on the underside of each leaf. It grows from low altitudes to the mountains.
Other endemic species Fiordland National Park:
The Potuhukawa Tree (Metrosideros excelsa) is an everlasting tree of the family of the myrtles that produces one combination of showy flowers consisted of a set of yarns. The Pohutukawa is one of twelve species of endemic Metrosideros of New Zealand. The tree grows up to 20 m of height, with an extensive glass in the shape of dome and can reach ages of about 1000 years The Pohutukawa blooms from November to January with a beak in the way of the end of December (the summer of the south hemisphere), with brilliant flowers cochineal powder covering the tree, therefore it has the nickname of Christmas tree of New Zealand. . Another feature of this tree is that it can grow in rocky terrain, over rocks and resists high levels of salinity.
Russell lupins (Lupinus polyphyllus) is an exotic plant that can grow up to 1,5 meters. It is an everlasting species. Russell lupins to produce heads of flowers of length and coloring. The flowers are similar to the pea and come in a variety of colors - blue, orange, purple, yellow, pink, white or a mixture of two colors. Robust pods that they exploit in the summer heat, liberating many seeds quoit dark take place.