New Zealand's long geological isolation means that most of its flora is unique. There are a wide variety of native trees, adapted to all the various micro-climates in New Zealand. The native bush (forest) ranges from the subtropical Kauri forests of the northern North Island, temperate rainforests of the West Coast, the alpine forests of the Southern Alps and Fiordland to the coastal forests of the Abel Tasman National Park and the Catlins.

In the early period of British colonisation, many New Zealand trees were known by names derived from the names of unrelated European trees, but more recently the trend has been to adopt the native Māori language names into English. For a listing in order of Māori name, with species names for most, see the Flora of New Zealand list of vernacular names

The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network has published a list of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants including all 574 native trees and shrubs. This list also identifies which trees are endemic to New Zealand and which are threatened with extinction.

Species

Pteridophyta (ferns)

• Cyatheaceae & Dicksoniaceae (tree fern families)
• Ponga or Silver Fern, Cyathea dealbata
• Mamaku Cyathea medullaris
• Tuakura Dicksonia lanata
• Kuripaka or Wheki-ponga Dicksonia fibrosa
• New Zealand Tree Fern or Wheki, Dicksonia squarrosa

Pinophyta (conifers)

• Araucariaceae (kauri family)
• Kauri Agathis australis
• Podocarpaceae (yellow-wood family)
• Kahikatea Dacrycarpus dacrydioides (formerly Podocarpus)
• Manoao Lagarostrobos colensoi (syn. Manoao colensoi)
• Matai Prumnopitys taxifolia
• Miro Prumnopitys ferruginea
• Mountain Toatoa Phyllocladus alpinus
• Rimu Dacrydium cupressinum
• Tanekaha Phyllocladus trichomanoides
• Totara Podocarpus totara
• Hall's totara Podocarpus hallii
• Mountain or snow totara Podocarpus nivalis
• Westland totara Podocarpus acutifolius
• Toatoa Phyllocladus toatoa
• Cupressaceae (cypress family)
• Kawaka Libocedrus plumosa
• Pahautea Libocedrus bidwillii

Magnoliophyta (broadleaf trees)

• Akeake
• Bartlett's rātā Metrosideros bartlettii
• Cabbage Tree Cordyline australis
• Five finger Pseudopanax arboreus
• Hinau Elaeocarpus
• Kaikōmako Pennantia corymbosa
• Kaka Beak Clianthus puniceus
• Kawakawa Macropiper excelsum
• Kāmahi Weinmannia racemosa
• Kanuka Kunzea ericoides
• Kapuka Griselinea littoralis
• Karaka Corynocarpus laevigatus
• Kohekohe Dysoxylum spectabile
• Kotukutuku Fuchsia excorticata
• Kowhai Sophora tetraptera, S. microphylla
• Lancewood Pseudopanax crassifolius, P. ferox
• Manuka Leptospermum scoparium
• Mahoe Melicytus ramiflorus
• Maire Syzygium maire
• Matagouri Discaria toumatou
• Nikau Rhopalostylis sapida
• Northern rātā Metrosideros robusta
• Pittosporum Pittosporum spp.
• Pōhutukawa Metrosideros excelsa
• Puka Meryta sinclairii
• Puriri Vitex lucens
• Rewarewa Knightia excelsa
• Southern rātā Metrosideros umbellata
• Taraire Beilschmiedia tarairi
• Tawa Beilschmiedia tawa
• Titoki Alectryon excelsus
• Whau Entelea aborescens (Corkwood)

External links

• Taxa. Flora of New Zealand. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.. Comprehensive list of botanical and family names
• Vernacular names (Māori). Flora of New Zealand. Retrieved on 2007-08-13..
• New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved on 2007-08-13..

References