Bark (2).
Common Names
Matai (Maori) (2), black pine.Taxonomic notes
Syn: Dacrydium taxifolium Banks & Solander ex D. Don 1837; Dacrydium mai A. Cunn. 1838; Podocarpus spicatus R. Br. in Horsfield 1838; Nageia spicata (R. Br.) F. Muell. 1876; Stachycarpus spicatus (R. Br.) Tiegh. 1891 (1).Description
Tree, to 30 m tall.Range
New Zealand: N and S Islands (1).Big Tree
A specimen 23 m tall and 235 cm dbh grows at Hari Hari, Lake Ianthe, Westland, NZ (5).Oldest
Dendrochronology
The species poses problems because is subject to ring wedging. "Ring wedging occurs when rapid radial growth occurs over several years in certain segments of the tree's circumference, while being extremely slow or absent in others... Examination of complete cross sections can help overcome this problem, and for some species accurate age counts must be based on cross sections rather than increment cores" (3). The species has seen limited use in climate reconstruction (4).Ethnobotany
Observations
Remarks
See also Paleobotany of Australia and New Zealand conifers.Citations
(1) Farjon 1998.(2) NZ School of Forestry website.
(3) Norton & Ogden 1990.
(4) Sparks et al. 1995.
(5) Burstall & Sale 1984 p. 288 (as Podocarpus spicatus).
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This page is from the Gymnosperm Database
URL: http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/2285/po/pr/taxifolia.htm
Edited by Christopher J. Earle
E-mail:
earlecj@earthlink.com
Last modified on 6-Jan-1999