kauri tree

Nïkau palm Native plants Where is it found? The nïkau palm is unique to New Zealand and it primarily occurs in coastal to lowland forest in warmer regions. It is found in the North Island and the northern South Island from the Marlborough Sounds and Nelson south to near Okarito in the west and Banks Peninsula (near Christchurch) in the east. Nïkau palms also grow on the Chatham Islands, and some botanists believe the plants there belong to a separate species. Two of the easiest places to see nïkau palms are Punakaiki in Paparoa National Park and Kohaihai at the start of the Heaphy track, where a mild climate encourages their growth year-round. Nïkau facts • The nïkau sprouts large clusters of mauve flowers that burst from the base of the lowest branch. The flowers are sticky and sweet with nectar, which attracts insects, especially bees. • While insects are probably the main pollinators, birds such as tui, bellbirds and silvereyes also enjoy the nïkau nectar. Flowers occur throughout the entire year. • The bright red nïkau fruits take about one year to ripen and are an important food source for native birds, particularly the wood pigeon/kererü and käkä. • Nïkau palms have always had importance in Mäori life. The leaves were used to thatch houses, to wrap food before cooking, and to weave into hats, mats, baskets, and leggings for travelling through rough undergrowth. The growing spikes can be taken from the tree about every eight months without killing it. • From the outer portion of the trunk, Mäori made storage containers and pots. The hard berries were made into necklaces or eaten when green. • The immature flower is edible and can be cooked and eaten like cauliflower. The heart of the The nïkau palm is the southernmost member of the palm family, a group that is usually tropical or sub-tropical. There are over 1100 palm species around the world, including some of the world’s most useful plants such as the oil palm, banana, coconut, and sago palm. Although a number of palms have been introduced to New Zealand and are planted around our towns and gardens, the nïkau palm is our only native palm species. A nïkau palm usually grows about 10 to 15 metres tall. It is easy to recognise in the bush with its circular trunk, which is ringed with .