houhere with ribbony lacebark beneath the skin

Size
Height: 6–10 m
Lifespan
50–100 years
Diet
Not applicable (tree)
Habitat
Coastal forests, lowland forests, and forest margins. Prefers fertile, well-drained soils with full sun to partial shade. Tolerates salt spray and wind. Often found near the coast and on offshore islands.
Range
Found in coastal and lowland forests of the North Island from Northland to Wellington. Rare in the northern South Island. Most common in coastal areas of the North Island.
Endemism
Endemic
Main Threats
Habitat loss from land clearance and coastal development is the primary threat. Browsing by introduced possums and deer. No significant pest or disease issues. Climate change affecting coastal habitats.
Population
Populations have declined due to land clearance but remain stable in remaining forest fragments. The species is still common in coastal forests of the North Island. It is threatened by ongoing habitat loss and browsing by possums.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
Lacebark. A tree named for its peeling bark. Houhere is named for its distinctive bark, which peels in thin, papery, lacy layers. The bark is fibrous and strong, peeling away from the trunk in sheets. Underneath, the new bark is smooth and pale. The tree looks like it is wrapped in lace. A tree that wears its own bandages. The leaves are large, heart-shaped, and serrated, up to ten centimetres long. They are dark green and soft, arranged alternately along the branches. The flowers are the story – masses of white, star-shaped flowers that appear in summer, covering the tree in a cloud of white. The flowers are sweetly scented, attracting moths and bees at night. A tree that blooms in the dark. The wood is light and soft. Māori used it for making bird spears (taoroa) and for making fire by friction. The wood is easy to carve, easy to shape. A tree that made tools. The fibrous bark was even more valuable. It was stripped, soaked, and beaten to separate the fibres, which were then twisted into strong, durable cordage. The fibres were used for making rope (taura), fishing nets (kupenga), and lines. A tree that made rope. The name houhere refers to the peeling bark (hou = to peel, here = to bind). The tree is also known as lacebark for the same reason. To see a houhere is to see a tree of the coast. It grows near the sea, on the cliffs, on the offshore islands. Its lacy bark peels in the wind, its white flowers scent the air. The wind blows. The bark peels, lacy and papery, revealing the smooth new bark beneath. The tree does not mind losing its skin. It has more underneath. It has been here for millennia. It will be here as long as the coast remains.