A podocarp is a type of tree found in New Zealand that makes up one of the two dominant forest types. Read all about what is a podocarp here.
Before living in New Zealand I had never heard of a podocarp. Even after living here it took a long time before I began to hear of it. Now that I know what it is I hear the term all the time. New Zealand has about 260 native trees, nearly 80% of which are found nowhere else on Earth! Some of those unique trees are podocarps.
What Is A Podocarp?
This is a large family of conifer trees that have cones and also fruit. In fact, the word podocarp means foot fruit. This refers to the fact that the seed of these grows at the foot of the fruit as opposed to inside of it like many other fruits.
Their cones are not woody like pinecones, instead they look more like berries.
This berry type of cone is a reproductive strategy. Birds are attracted to the berries to eat them. The animals eat the berries and spread the seeds.
The leaves are needle like or scale like as opposed to broad, flat leaves. The scale like leaves look like the leaves of a juniper or cypress tree.
To clarify, podocarps are a type of conifer tree that has cones and fruit. They are not a flowering tree.
There are more than 100 species in the southern hemisphere, with 17 species in NZ.
Where Can You Find A Podocarp In New Zealand?
As I said in the beginning there are two dominant forest types in New Zealand – beech forest and broadleaf- podocarp. The beech forests are found mainly in the south island, but they can also be found in the higher elevations of the north island. It grows better in colder areas.
In contrast, the broadleaf – podocarp forest is most commonly found throughout the north island. It can also be found in the south island, mostly on the northern part. This type of forest grows well in warmer and wetter areas.
Common Types Of Podocarp Trees In New Zealand
Rimu – This is a tall tree, growing up to 50 m high. Rimus are one of the most widespread and common podocarps in NZ.
Miro – This is a shorter tree at 25 meters tall. It grows pinskish/purplish berries in the fall.
Kahikatea – This is the tallest native NZ tree, growing up to 60 meters high. This tree used to be very abundant, but has been greatly reduced due to logging. It grows well in wet, swampy areas. The tree grows big buttressed roots to stabilize it in these moist environments. It has black berries in the fall, which many birds like to eat.
Matai – Grows a nice blue/black berry that is enjoyed by several birds, including Kaka and the Kereru.