Flora of New Zealand Series

redwood

Large or very large tree. Bark reddish brown, shedding in large plates. Shoots green for 2-3 years. Lvs of lateral shoots 1.2-2.6 cm × 1.3-3 mm (earliest and latest-formed lvs usually smaller), linear to linear-oblong; stomatal bands white, broad, almost extending to midrib; apex sharply mucronate, mainly acute on cone-bearing shoots. ♂ strobili 3-4 mm diam. ♀ cones 2-2.5 cm diam., often pendulous. Disc (scale umbo) prominently ridged and wrinkled; mucro very small. Seed 5-6 mm long, elliptic to ± oblong.

N.: N. Auckland (Whangarei), Waikato (Horahora), Thames District, Rotorua.

California 1922

Regenerating around forests, sometimes invading open modified indigenous forest.

Redwood is commonly cultivated in N.Z. in parks, domains and plantations, particularly in inland areas. The best stand is the well-known redwood grove at Whakarewarewa near Rotorua where it regenerates freely from old stumps by sending up sucker shoots, a character seen in very few other conifers. However, cones and seeds are also freely produced in N.Z.

Redwood seedlings and saplings superficially resemble young yew trees but can be distinguished by the decurrent lvs with glaucous or whitish stomatal bands below. The sp. is occasionally called coast redwood, the usual common name in California.