Tawa

Beilschmiedia tawa endemic to NZ

Tawa Description

Tawa may grow up to 30 metres or more in height with trunks up to 1.2 metres in diameter, and they have smooth dark bark. The word tawa is the Maori name for the tree.

it is a very common tree NZ wide but not so much in the Tangihua’s

Flowers and leaves

Tawa has narrow, drooping, willow-like leaves, yellow-green on the upper surface and blue-white underneath. The young leaves that appear in spring are orange-brown, giving the trees a distinct olive hue at that time.

Tawa trees produce small inconspicuous yellowisg flowers in sprays.  (October-) January (-May) and they fruit (December-) January (-March)

The fruit  is 2 – 3.5 cm long  fruit  of a purplle plum colour. With such large fruits the tawa is notable for the fact that it relies solely on the kererū  (New Zealand woodpigeon) and, the North Island  kōkako  for dispersal of its seed. These are the only  birds  large enough to eat the fruits of this tree and pass the seeds through their guts and excrete them unharmed.

At one stage Moa would have also dispersed the seed but like the North Island  kōkako they are extinct in the Tangihua ranges. which makes it difficult for tawa to regenerate.

Significance to Maori

Tawa berries were extensively collected for food they are very sweet, with a slight flavour of turpentine; the kernel, when cooked, is also eaten and can be  stored for a long time

the bark when infused furnishes the traveller with a wholesome as well as a grateful beverage which does not require the addition of sugar.

T he wood is very good for fires