About

Beilschmiedia tawa, commonly known as the Māori name tawa, is a New Zealand broadleaf tree common in the central parts of the country. Tawa is often the dominant canopy tree species in lowland forests in the North Island and the north east of the South Island, but will also often form the subcanopy in primary forests throughout the country in these areas, beneath podocarps such as kahikatea, mataī, miro and rimu. Individual specimens may grow up to 30 m (98 ft) or more in height, with trunks up to 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) in diameter, and they have smooth dark bark.

Tawa produce small inconspicuous flowers followed by 2–3.5 cm (0.79–1.38 in) long fruit of a dark red plum colour. With such large fruits, tawa is notable for the fact that it relies solely on the New Zealand pigeon (kererū) and (where present) the North Island kōkako for dispersal of its seed.

Where it grows

Beilschmiedia tawa is a tree endemic to New Zealand. It is most commonly found in the North Island, and on many of its off-shore islands. In the South Island, the tree is less common with its population being mainly centred in the Marlborough Region, with its southernmost population located in the Kaikōura Ranges, in the northern Canterbury Region. It is one of two members of the genus Beilschmiedia found in New Zealand, alongside Beilschmiedia tarairi, also known as taraire.

Other Beilschmiedia plants

Beilschmiedia ambigua · Canary Ash · Southern Acorn Tree · Beilschmiedia bracteata · Beilschmiedia brunnea · Beilschmiedia castrisinensis · Beilschmiedia collina · Grey Walnut · Beilschmiedia gaboonensis · Beilschmiedia giorgii · Beilschmiedia insignis · Beilschmiedia kweo