have recently been erected to help with native plant identification. And a cool addition is the info on Uses and notably medicinal uses on each sign. Rub the leaves of the Ngaio on your skin to ward off the sandflies – a handy insect repellent.
Kumete Forest Trees
Signs
Dimensions: L200 x H150mm
Permanent material
Kanuka, Kunzea ericoides.
A fantastic establishment small tree, with lovely white nectar full flowers in spring.
Kanuka or manuka? run your hand through the foliage, soft? It’s a K (for kind) Kanuka.
You’ll see other plants getting started under the Kanuka – the Mother Plant!
Use: hard wood good for Maori tools and weapons. Honey anti bacterial and anti fungal properties
Medicinal: leaves tea for colds, fevers;
Inner bark scalds and burns; shoots and seed capsules relieve dysentery and stomach complaints.
Mahoe, melicytus ramiflorus
commonly called Whiteywood – appropriately enough. It’s a feisty opportunist growing in most lowland places. The highlight is the mass flowering on the branches, cup like they fill with nectar attracting insects, birds and gecko lizards.
Use: base wood for fire making,
Medicinal: inner bark topical for burns
Kahikatea, Dacrycarpus dacrydioides
Tallest and oldest of our podocarps (pine trees). A truly majestic lowland swamp tree. Dioecious meaning both a male and female tree. The male cones mature to give a yellow look to the tree. The female fruit on mature trees is often produced in vast quantities edible for us and the birds.
Use: waka, butter boxes, soot dye for tattooing
Ngaio, Myoporum laetum
A coastal loving small, fast growing tree with masses of beautiful midsized white flowers, enhanced with small purple spots in spring.
Look closely you’ll see small spots(oil glands) on the leaves. Small purple black berries.
Use: early sheep farmers used ngaio oil as a sheep dip to protect sheep from parasites.
Medicinal: Rub leaves over skin to repel sandflies. Leaf buds and inner bark soothe stomach pain and sore gums.
Tōtara, Podocarpus totara
A large native conifer tree in New Zealand with reddish-brown, stringy bark and dark green, prickly leaves. Both male and female trees
Use: carving, waka building
Medicinal: smoke for skin conditions. Infusions from the leaves for stomach ailments.
Kowhai, Sophora godleyi
A weeping habit, long pendulous branches, grey green foliage. A profusion of yellow flowers October/December. Loved by Tuis for the nectar.
Use: yellow dye from the flowers; durable wood for construction and fences.
Medicinal: bark infusions to treat skin ailments and scabies; used as poultice for sprains and wounds.
Karamu, Coprosma robusta
Fast growing and upright, found in coastal areas, to around 6m tall. Glossy dark green leaves from 5-12cm, Flowers are small and white. Fruit orange red to red laden on branches in April-May. Harvested by many bird species.
Use: Ecological restoration, used for creating shelterbelts and screens. Berries are edible can be made into a syrup.
Medicinal: leaves to treat wounds, ulcers and bruises.
Manuka, Leptospermum scoparium
Manuka is a fast growing tree with small scented leaves and masses of showy, white flowers. Attractive to bees.
Use: honey internal health benefits; use instead of sugar as a sweetner; wood strong and flexible for tools, weapons, canoes and smoking food.
Medicinal: sooths sore throats antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties; eases conditions like IBS; Applied topically to heal wounds, sooth burns, treat acne.
Five finger, Pseudopanax arboreus
Small tree growing in most lowland locations in NZ. Large glossy leaves, serrated edge, beautiful dark green and arranged in fives. The fruit decorative bunches of purple black berries, known to be relished by birds.
Use: lances for spearing birds, make walking sticks, bark for skids for hauling waka.
Early settlers used leaf midribs for boot laces, repairing bridles, gum used to stop up leakages in water vessels.
Tarata, Lemonwood, Pittosporum eugenoides
Fast growing small tree, with glossy, long light green leaves and have a strong lemon smell when crushed. It produces attractive highly fragrant clusters of yellow-cream flowers in spring followed by distinctive black seed capsules, that are attractive to insects. Up to 12m tall. Foundthroughout NZ along forest margins and stream banks.
Use: fragrant flowers used for anointing the body and resin for hair oils and perfumes. Wood for making trumpets.
Medicinal: Resinous gum as chewing gum; paste from leaves treat wounds and burns; juice disinfectant and laxative properties