Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) | Tangihua, Northland

Manuka Leptospermum scoparium

Not endemic to New Zealand

Manuka and Kanuka are commonly called tea tree

Although Manuka and Kanuka have a superficial similarity and are collectively known as ‘tea trees’, they are genetically very distinct from each other. We have provided a table below to distinguish between the two

Where Manuka is found

Manuka is extremely adaptable and hardy. Common throughout New Zealand up to 1800 metres above sea level. It can be found in many different habitats including wetlands, river gravels and dry hillsides. When mature, it is very tolerant of drought, waterlogging, strong winds and frost.

Manuka will establish in pastures or any open areas in the forest and is found on the bush fringe, clearings and open Farm land.

Manuka can be seen regenerating in any open area not mowed, lining the lodge road and all our clearings.

The picture is on the camping site past the confidence course where is it is regularly controlled to allow room for the tents.

About Manuka

Manuka is called a successional species, (a species which occurs a point of time when a forest is regenerating.)

Manuka, a scrub-type tree, is New Zealand’s main pioneer shrub. Germinating mānuka seedlings need full sunlight to grow, as they have few food reserves in their tiny seed. When the capsules that contain Mānuka seeds are exposed to intense heat and smoke they spring open, scattering their contents on the recently cleared ground. The seeds germinate prolifically – thousands to a square metre. These compete intensely for nutrients, water and light. Over time most mānuka seedlings and saplings die, until just one tree dominates every few square metres.

Manuka can flower and seed when just a few centimetres tall. The seeds can also be windbourne as its woody capsules split open when dry or burnt, releasing thousands of fine light seeds that are spread by wind.

Mānuka is old at 30–50 years. As its canopy opens, other species germinate and grow, as it is too shady under the canopy for a second crop of mānuka.

Role in the forest

Manuka very grows quickly. By creating shade and shelter from the wind, they provide an excellent nursery for other, slower growing native plants.

Manuka flowers smell very sweet and they provide an important source of nectar for honey bees, native solitary bees, flies, moths, beetles and geckos.

Significance to Moari

Maori played a major role spreading Manuka.

In the dense wet forest there were few fires and Manuka as a pioneer species was replaced by the next level of regenerating forest and unable to re-establish at the climax level. Maori cleared extensive areas of forest allowing manuka to establish. Maori Re- burnt these areas on a regular basis so they could travel through allowed Manuka to constantly re-establish itself.

The hard, red wood of mānuka was widely used by Māori for everything from paddles, weapons, spade blades, bird spears and mauls to house building. The bark was used for making water containers and the inner bark as a waterproof layer for roofing.

medicinal purposes

A ddecoction of the leaves was drunk for urinary complaints and as a febrifuge (an agent for reducing fever). The steam from leaves boiled in water was inhaled for head colds. A decoction was prepared from the leaves and bark and the warm liquid was rubbed on stiff muscles and aching joints. The emollient white gum, called pai Manuka, was given to nursing babies and also used to treat scalds and burns. Chewing the bark is said to have a relaxing effect and it enhances sleep. Manuka oil from steaming the leaves was and still is used

Cooking

The hard wood is ideal for fires as is slow burning and hot. Mānuka sawdust imparts a delicious flavour when used for smoking meats and fish

Significance to Europeans

Tests have shown that Manuka nectar, and honey derived from it, contains powerful anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory enzymes, that help fight bacterial infections. Manuka oil is now sold in New Zealand and overseas in various cosmetics and health care products.

Mānuka honey , produced when honeybees gather the nectar from its flowers, and for the pharmaceutical industry

Difference between Kanuka and Manuka

The physical identification between the two plants is often difficult even for experienced observers.

	Manuka	Kanuka
Endemic to New Zealand	No	Yes
Where	Manuka is a first generation regenerating shrub and will grow in the open. e.g along the road side	Kanuka generally establishes after and often under Manuka. It grows taller and lives longer making it a type three regenerating tree.
Growth	Manuka is a shrub growing to 3-4 metres	Kanuka is a tree and grows to 5-7 metres or more in height and is faster growing and taller growing
Leaves	Manuka has large numbers of very small leaves, up to 12 mm long and about 4 mm wide. Manuka leaves are very small and prickly to touch	kanuka Leaves have no sharp points and are soft to touch
Flowers	Manuka has has white flowers 10-12mm and flowers profusely a little earlier than kanuka and additionally in irregular bursts at other times. The photos were taken of flowers in may 2017	Kanuka’s are smaller and flowers once a year in mid Summer only. The flowers are white 4-5 mm wide.
Seeds	Manuka capsules are approximately 8–10mm in diameter and hang on for much longer	Kanuka ‘s are smaller – 4–5mm in diameter. Generally there are no seed capsules except briefly in late summer.
Bark	Manuka bark is papery, rather flaky with shorter flakes and brown. Mānuka plants are sometimes covered with sooty mould, a black fungus that feeds on the honeydew produced by scale insects.	The trunk and branches are usually clad in long, leathery strips of bark, rather than the short, papery, rather flaky brown bark also typical of the tree forms of mānuka/kāhikatoa
Wood colour	mānuka is red tea tree,	kānuka is white tea tree
Longevity	Manuka is comparatively short lived, generally to about 60 years	Kanuka will live for up to 150 years
Smell test Take a shoot and rub it between thumb and forefinger.	If the tissue is harsh to the feel and is without scent or only mildly aromatic the specimen is manuka	If the tissue is soft and the smell strongly aromatic then the specimen can be known as kanuka or Kunzea ericoides.
Honey The big difference is two components that only appear in the respective honey.	DHA (dihydroxyacetone) in Manuka. This is the sought after product which make Manuka honey so valuable	AGP (arabinogalactan protein) in Kanuka honey. Not the antibiotic that is sough after in Manuka but considered to have healing properties

Manuka