SOME NEGLECTED NEW ZEALAND TREES

Forest and Bird, Issue 44, 1 May 1937, Page 14

SOME NEGLECTED NEW ZEALAND TREES

By B. C. Aston.

(Continued from February issue.)

WHAU.

AN excellent small tree for a centre piece for lawns or beds is the New Zealand cork tree or Whau (Entelea aborescens). It grows rapidly; strikes easily from cuttings and may be raised from seed; has very large green mul-berry-like leaves and white flowers succeeded by prickly burr-like fruits containing large whitish seeds. Although common at one time in the Taranaki Province it has been largely eaten out by cattle in many places. A few are still to be found at Paekakariki, the most southerly habitat known. It is quite hardy in frost-free localities and thrives on the Karori hills, given a deep soil and fairly sheltered position where the frost is light enough only to blacken the leaves in winter. This shrub-tree will make a handsome addition to any garden large enough to afford the space to show off its characters as an isolated specimen. A few years ago there was a well known tree at Mahara House, Waikanae, where it was universally admired for many years. The wood of this tree is so light that the Maori used it as a buoy for fishing nets in the same way as the Pakeha uses cork. Entelea aborescens belongs to the family of plants called Tiliaceae and therefore is related to the New Zealand wineberry (Aristotelia racemosa), Makomako, and to that charming European street shade-tree the lime or linden. NEW ZEALAND BEECHES. The most outstanding instance of neglect in the case of New Zealand trees for ornament which is difficult to understand is that instance of the New Zealand beeches (Nothofagus) that group of trees which is often miscalled “birch” by the bushman or settler. They are all easy to grow and are all beautiful, and are the quickest growing large trees of New Zealand. They grow naturally in the most exposed and dry situations and on the poorest soil, and therefore are extremely hardy in cultivation. In addition to this they are extremely prolific in the native forests, millions of seedlings being available under the trees. There is one thing that one cannot do with any New Zealand beech tree, it cannot be struck from cuttings.

This is a decided drawback when one happens to find a specimen with highly coloured leaves or a hybrid which has unusual characteristics. It is also somewhat difficult to obtain the fertile seed of any of the beeches as they so soon are shed when ripe. For those who have fairly large gardens and can afford to give the necessary space there is no New Zealand tree which will so quickly yield satisfying results to the planter as a garden or shrubbery plant for boundaries or carriage drives. New Zealand beeches are the host plants of two scarlet flowered New Zealand mistletoes. Elytranthe Colensoi and E. tetrapetalus, as well as of the orange flowered E. flavidus, and when the right technique of growing these brilliant parasites is determined it will add another reason for growing beech trees more plentifully in garden, plantation, or public reserve. Opinions may differ as to what is the most beautiful of the beeches, but probably the hardiest and one easily obtained is that which yields the well-known “Southland beech” timber now largely used in the timber trade. This species is variously called “silver beech” from the silvery bark, “cherry beech” from the cherry-like bark, “brown beech,” or Menzie’s beech or ‘‘toothed-leaved beech,” (Nothofagus Menztesii). In nature it is so abundant that it is the dominant forest growth in large areas of the North Island above 2000 ft. and South Island from sea level. It is so beautiful that armfuls of the foliage will be eagerly accepted by garden visitors. The red beech, (Nfusca), has leaves which turn a charming reddish colour in winter and the leaves of this species are comparatively large. The smallest species of the family is the mountain or entire-leaved beech. (N. cliffortioides). H. J. Matthews, at one time Chief Government Forester, thought this the most beautiful of the species and certainly there is much to be said for this view. The small size and slower growth make it more suitable for the small garden than the larger species.

REWAREWA OR HONEYSUCKLE.

One of the most neglected trees is the Rewarewa, or New Zealand Honeysuckle (Knightia

excelsa). Any specimens planted in a well drained moist soil will flourish and quickly grow into a shapely tree. It is particularly hardy and grows rapidly. Its leaves have a very characteristic and unusual shape, and the outline of the tree is extremely neat and symmetrical, being conical or columnar and therefore suitable for planting among buildings. The foliage is the most conspicuous and ornamental part of the tree; the red flowers are highly attractive when detached but they are concealed by the leaves when growing. It is one of the trees which produce nectar for the honey eating birds. This species belongs to the great Australian and South African family “Proteaceae”; indeed, it has a somewhat alien aspect but it is a true New Zealander. The illustration shows the tall columns of Knightia standing out above all other trees. The timber is the well-known “New Zealand honeysuckle” useful for veneering and other ornamental woodwork.