kāmahi that flowers red in mountain forest
- Size
- Height: 15–20 m
- Lifespan
- 200–300 years
- Diet
- Not applicable as this is a tree. Absorbs nutrients through roots. Prefers moist, sheltered sites with partial shade. Often a dominant canopy tree in mature forest. Tolerates a wide range of conditions.
- 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 affects 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.
- Conservation Status
- Not Threatened
- Human Risk
- harmless
- Handling Note
- native broadleaf tree, safe to handle
- Conservation Note
- Endemic tree; widespread in lowland and montane forests throughout New Zealand.
- Assessment
- NZTCS Vascular Plants (2023)
- Te Ao Māori
- In Māori tradition, kāmahi was valued for its hard, strong wood. The wood was used for making weapons (patu, taiaha), tools (adzes, chisels) and for building. The flowers provided nectar for birds. They were a sign that the forest was healthy. The tree was also used in traditional medicines. The bark was sometimes used for making torches. Kāmahi is one of the most important trees in the forest ecosystem. It provides food and shelter for many native species.
Rain defines its home. Kāmahi is one of New Zealand's most widespread native trees. It grows from Northland to Stewart Island. It grows 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. They have a distinctive, feathery appearance. They are divided into leaflets arranged like a feather. They are dark green and glossy. The bark is rough and flaky. It peels in small scales. The trunk is straight and tall. It reaches up to 20 metres. It has a rounded crown.
The flowers are the story. They grow in long, bottlebrush-like spikes. They hang from the branches. The flowers are small and white. But there are thousands of them. The spikes are rich in nectar. They attract 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. It holds an edge. The bark was sometimes used for making torches. It burns slowly in the dark.
Possums love kāmahi. They browse the leaves. They strip the canopy. They kill the tree. In some forests, the possums have eaten every kāmahi they can reach. The large old trees are gone. Only the saplings remain 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 drip. White flower spikes hum 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.