kāmahi that flowers red in mountain forest

Size
Height: 15–20 m
Lifespan
200–300 years
Diet
Not applicable (tree)
Habitat
Lowland and hill forests, often on fertile, well-drained soils. Prefers moist, sheltered sites with partial shade. Often a dominant canopy tree in mature forest. Tolerates a wide range of conditions.
Range
Found throughout New Zealand from Northland to Stewart Island. Most common in lowland and hill forests. One of the most widespread native trees. Absent from much of the eastern South Island.
Endemism
Endemic
Main Threats
Habitat loss from land clearance is the primary threat. Browsing by introduced possums and deer. Climate change affecting forest habitats. No significant pest or disease issues other than possums.
Population
Populations have declined due to land clearance but remain stable in remaining forest fragments. The species is still common in lowland forests throughout New Zealand. It is threatened by ongoing habitat loss and browsing by possums. Large old trees are now rare in accessible areas.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
One of New Zealand's most widespread native trees. A tree of the wet forest. Kāmahi grows from Northland to Stewart Island, from the coast to the hills. It is a tree of the damp forest, of the gullies and the slopes, of the places where the rain falls and the mist hangs. A tree that likes the wet. The leaves are compound, with a distinctive, feathery appearance. They are divided into leaflets arranged like a feather, dark green and glossy. The bark is rough and flaky, peeling in small scales. The trunk is straight and tall, reaching up to 20 metres, with a rounded crown. The flowers are the story. They grow in long, bottlebrush-like spikes, hanging from the branches. The flowers are small and white, but there are thousands of them. The spikes are rich in nectar, attracting tūī, bellbirds, and insects. The forest hums with feeding when the kāmahi is in flower. A tree that feeds the forest. The wood is hard and strong. Māori used it for making weapons (patu, taiaha), tools (adzes, chisels), and for construction. The wood is dense and durable, holding an edge. The bark was sometimes used for making torches, burning slowly in the dark. Possums love kāmahi. They browse the leaves, stripping the canopy, killing the tree. In some forests, the possums have eaten every kāmahi they can reach. The large old trees are gone, leaving only the saplings on the forest floor. To see a kāmahi is to see a tree of the wet forest. The forest is misty. The kāmahi stands, feathery leaves dripping, white flower spikes humming with birds. The possums are in the canopy. The tree does not know it is being eaten. It just wants to grow. It will be here as long as the possums are kept at bay.