Laurelia novae-zelandiae
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Laurelia novae-zelandiae | ||||||||||||||
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Laurelia novae-zelandiae |
Laurelia novae-zelandiae (also called Pukatea) is a large evergreen tree, endemic to the forests of New Zealand.
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[edit] Distribution
Pukatea grows throughout the North Island of New Zealand, and the northern third of the South Island. It often grows in damp low-land forests, especially gullies.
[edit] Description
Pukatea can grow to a height of 40 m and is the only New Zealand native tree developing large plank-buttresses. Its dark green, elliptic leaves are 5-7 cm long and coarsely toothed.
[edit] Uses
Historically, the light, but tough timber of pukatea has been used for boat building.