Native Trees and Plants to NZ:

Researched sourced from – https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/

“80% of our trees, ferns and flowering plants are endemic (found only in New Zealand).

About 10–15% of the total land area of New Zealand is covered with native flora, from tall kauri and kohekohe forests to rainforest dominated by rimu, beech, tawa, matai and rata; ferns and flax; dunelands with their spinifex and pingao; alpine and subalpine herb fields; and scrub and tussock.”

80% of our trees, ferns and flowering plants are endemic (found only in New Zealand).

About 10–15% of the total land area of New Zealand is covered with native flora, from tall kauri and kohekohe forests to rainforest dominated by rimu, beech, tawa, matai and rata; ferns and flax; dunelands with their spinifex and pingao; alpine and subalpine herb fields; and scrub and tussock. 

Beech forest – New Zealand’s beech forests are made up of five species of southern beech.

Cabbage tree/tī kōuka – The cabbage tree is one of the most distinctive trees in the New Zealand landscape, especially on farms. They grow all over the country, but prefer wet, open areas like swamps.

Chatham Island forget-me-not – The threatened Chatham Island forget-me-not, a much loved, stunning garden plant, grows naturally on the Chatham Islands – on coastal cliffs, rock outcrops and sandy and rocky beaches.

Dactylanthus – Dactylanthus is New Zealand’s only indigenous fully parasitic flowering plant.

New Zealand ferns – New Zealand has an unusually high number of fern species for a temperate country and about 40 per cent of these species occur nowhere else in the world.

Freshwater algae – Green slime and brown scum on stream beds is usually regarded as an unattractive nuisance however, it is a vital part of stream ecosystems.

Harakeke/flax – There are two identified species of flax in New Zealand – common flax (harakeke) and mountain flax (wharariki).

Kākābeak/ngutukākā – Kākābeak is named for its beautiful red flowers, which hang in clusters of 15-20 blooms and are shaped like a kaka’s beak.

Kauri – Kauri are among the world’s mightiest trees, growing to over 50 m tall, with trunk girths up to 16 m, and living for over 2,000 years.

Kōwhai – The kōwhai is one of the best known native trees in New Zealand and it’s our unofficial national flower.

Lancewood/horoeka – Lancewood, or horoeka, is a unique, small tree with lance-like foliage that changes dramatically as the tree matures.

Mānuka/kahikātoa and kānuka – Although mānuka/kahikātoa and kānuka have a superficial similarity and are collectively known as ‘tea trees’ they are genetically very distinct from each other.

Matagouri/wild Irishman – Matagouri, or wild Irishman as it is sometimes called, is a thorny bush or small tree that can grow up to six metres high.

Nīkau palm – The nīkau palm is the southernmost member of the palm family and New Zealand’s only native palm species.

Podocarp-hardwood forests – Podocarp trees include rimu, kahikatea, miro, mataī and tōtara.

Pōhutukawa – Pōhutukawa is New Zealand’s Christmas tree, and holds a prominent place in Maori mythology.

Rātā – Rātā trees, along with the pōhutukawa, are one of the best known native trees in New Zealand.

Shrubby tororaro – The shrubby tororaro is a very ecologically and culturally significant shrub.

Wetland forests – There are three distinctive types of wetland forests – swamp forest, peatland forest, and intertidal forest.

Layers of a forrest:

Research sourced from – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest

A forest is made up of many layers. The main layers of all forest types are the forest floor, the understory and the canopy. The emergent layer exists in tropical rainforests. Each layer has a different set of plants and animals depending upon the availability of sunlight, moisture and food.

• Forest floor contains decomposing leaves, animal droppings, and dead trees. Decay on the forest floor forms new soil and provides nutrients to the plants. The forest floor supports ferns, grasses, mushroom and tree seedlings.
• Understory is made up of bushes, shrubs, and young trees that are adapted to living in the shades of the canopy.
• Canopy is formed by the mass of intertwined branches, twigs and leaves of the mature trees. The crowns of the dominant trees receive most of the sunlight. This is the most productive part of the trees where maximum food is produced. The canopy forms a shady, protective “umbrella” over the rest of the forest.
• Emergent layer exists in the tropical rain forest and is composed of a few scattered trees that tower over the canopy.

What I will use for my forest:

Understory:

Ferns – Ferns are abundant in all damp situations in New Zealand forests, forming the undergrowth beneath a dense canopy of evergreen trees. http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/nz-ferns.html

Flax – Phormium tenax (New Zealand Flax) The plant grows as a clump of long, strap like leaves, up to two meters long, from which arises a much taller flowering shoot, with dramatic yellow or red flowers. A flax bush will often support a large community of animals, providing shelter and an extensive food resource. Tui, bellbirds, saddlebacks, short tailed bats, geckos and several types of insects enjoy nectar from the flax flower. Flax can also be used as a material for weaving and creating a wide range of natural tools, clothing and other items. http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/plants-native-botanical-names-m-to-q/nz-flax.html

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Manuka – Creates shade and shelter from the wind, they provide an excellent nursery for other, slower growing native plants. Captain Cook and early settlers called mānuka/kahikātoa ‘tea tree’ because they used the green leaves to make a substitute for tea. Mānuka/kahikātoa flowers smell very sweet and they provide an important source of pollen and nectar for native bees, flies, moths, beetles and geckos. https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/manuka-kahikatoa-and-kanuka/

Canopy/ Sub Canopy:

Nikau – The Nikau grows up to 15 m tall, with a stout green trunk which bears grey-green leaf scars. The trunk is topped by a smooth bulging crown shaft up to 1m long. The fronds are up to 3m long, and the closely-set, sometimes overlapping leaflets are up to 1 m long. The tightly packed flowers are unisexual and coloured lilac to pink. The fruit is elliptic or oblong, and generally measures about 10 by 7 mm, and is red when ripe.
The Nikau produces flowers between November and April, and fruits ripen from February to November, taking almost a year to fully ripen. These are a favourite food of the Kereru, the native wood pigeon. http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/trees-native-botanical-names-r-to-z/nikau-palm.html

Puriri -Puriri is one of the few native trees with large colourful flowers. The bright colour, the tube shape, copious nectar production and the hairs at the base of the flower tube all point towards birds pollinating this flower. Grows up to 20m. Traditional uses by the Maori:
An infusion of the leaves from this noble tree contains a powerful germicide. The leaves were boiled It was valued for bathing sprains and backache. http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/trees-native-botanical-names-r-to-z/puriri.html

Titoki – It is an attractive tree with glossy dark green leaves and a spreading canopy (height  4 – 18 metres). The Titoki tree seeds are a hairy woody capsule that splits to reveal bright red fruit and black seed. The fruit can take up to a year to mature. These trees are attractive to bees, butterflies and birds. The Maoris used to bruise the seeds and then steamed them to release oil. The oil was used for an earache, for eye problems and as a lotion for a wide range of skin ailments. https://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/table-1/titoki.html