| Tōtara | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A tōtara in Mangakino, New Zealand | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Araucariales |
| Family: | Podocarpaceae |
| Genus: | Podocarpus |
| Species: | P. totara |
| Binomial name | |
| Podocarpus totara | |
Podocarpus totara (/ˈtoʊtərə/),[2] commonly known as thetōtara, is a species ofpodocarp treeendemic to New Zealand. Found across New Zealand, the tree can grow up to a height of 35 m (115 ft), and is known for its longevity.
The wood of tōtara is rot-resistant, and prized inMāori culture, and was often used as a material to create large-scalewaka.
The tōtara is a medium to largetree, which grows slowly to around 20 to 25 metres (66 to 82 feet) exceptionally to 35 m (115 ft); it is noted for its longevity and the greatgirth of its trunk. Thebark peels off in papery flakes, with a purplish to golden brown hue. The sharp, dull-green, needle-likeleaves are stiff and leathery, 2 cm (0.79 in) long. This plant produces highly modifiedcones with two to four fused, fleshy, berry-like, juicy scales, bright red when mature. The cone contains one or two roundedseeds at the apex of the scales.
The largest known living tōtara, the Pouakani Tree, nearPureora in the central North Island, is over 35 m (115 ft) tall and nearly 4 m (13 ft) in trunk diameter at breast height.[3] Bushmen discovered it in 1950.[4] 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 40 m (130 ft) in height).
The first informal description ofPodocarpus totara was by Australian naturalistGeorge Bennett in 1832, published as an appendix toAylmer Bourke Lambert's third edition second volume ofA Description of the Genus Pinus.[5] When the species was formally described byDavid Don, he used Bennett's binomial name.[6]
The two varieties of tōtara are:[7]
Podocarpus totara var.waihoensis, also known as the Westland tōtara, is a variety found in theWest Coast Region of the South Island, approximately south from theWaiho River. The variety is not recognised by some authors, and it may potentially be a hybrid ofPodocarpus totara andPodocarpus acutifolius.[8][9]
ItsMāori name comes from theProto-Polynesian word *tootara (related to the wordtara lit. 'thorn') which when passed down to descendant languages refer to spiny creatures, especially theporcupinefish (Diodon hystrix) due to its spiky leaves.[10] Thespecies epithet totara comes from the Māori language name.[11] The spelling "totara" without thetohutō is also common in English.[citation needed]
Podocarpus totara is found in both the North Island and the South Island, growing in both lowland,montane and lower subalpine habitats, at elevations of up to 600 metres (2,000 feet)[11][12] It is rarely found onStewart Island / Rakiura.[12] Tōtara is commonly found in lowland areas where the soil is fertile and well drained.[13]
Tōtara is often found regenerating on farmland, as it is not eaten by livestock.[13] Tōtara is so commonly found onNorthland farms that some farmers consider the tree to be a weed.[11]
In a classic example ofAntarctic flora species-pair the tōtara is very closely related toPodocarpus nubigenus fromSouth 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 ofP. nubigenus.[citation needed]
Tōtara grows easily from fresh seed andcuttings.[12] It has been planted in the United Kingdom as far north asInverewe,Scotland.[14]
Several cultivars for garden use have been introduced. These include 'Albany Gold' and 'Aurea', both 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.
Thewood is hard, straight-grained, and very resistant to rot, especially itsheartwood. 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 inMāori carving. It was the primary wood used to makewaka (canoes) in traditional Māori boat building due to its relatively light weight (about 25% lighter thankauri), long, straight lengths, and natural oils in the wood that help prevent rotting. Tōtara could be drilled with chert points to make holes near the edges of the timber without splitting. In larger tōtarawaka, three or more sections were laced together with flax rope. A tōtarawaka took at least a year to make using stone adzes.
During European settlement, tōtara wood was prized as a rot-resistant, strong and durable material, used to construct wharf piles, railway sleepers and fence posts.[11]
Bark from tōtara is used to cover and protect traditionalpōhā bags,[15] and smoke from tōtara wood was used as a traditional remedy for skin ailments.[11] Early European settlers working in the bush would often make infusions of tōtara leaves for upset stomachs.[11]
The red flesh of tōtara berries is edible.[11]
Thediterpenetotarol was first isolated from the heartwood ofPodocarpus totara in 1910, during investigations into what caused the tree's resistance to rotting.[16][17] While totarol is no longer typically isolated from the tree in commercial production, it is a common ingredient in cosmetics.[11]
WithinMāori culture, the tōtara is regarded as a symbol of strength andmana. Upon the death of a prominent figure, the phraseKua hinga te tōtara i te wao nui aTāne ("A mighty tōtara has fallen in the forest of Tāne") or similar is often used as a mark of respect.[18][19] Because of its use as a material for waka, the tōtara is often associated withTūmatauenga, the god of war, and an alternative name for the tree is Tū-kau-Moana, or Tū who swims in the ocean.[11]
Due to the tree's resistance to rot, tōtara logs would often be long-lasting fixtures of rivers, lakes and harbours. This led to tōtara logs becoming associated withtaniwha, such as Te Upoko o Huraki Tai, a taniwha believed to inhabit a tōtara log onLake Rotoiti, and Rangititi, who lived on a log on theWairoa River nearDargaville. Rangititi is seen as a poor omen toNgāti Whātua, who traditionally interpret birds landing on the log as a sign of death.[11]
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