Using Firefox to upload images seems to work. Very slow connection though, so probably won't have time to load many. I'll do more when we get home.
This was the biggest Kauri around where we were, truly a wonder. On this very misty day I shot straight up the trunk.
The tree was estimated to be 2500 years old. Trunk was at least 6 feet in diameter. Driving to this forest reserve not far from the Bay of Islands, the fog was so thick we couldn't see more than ten feet ahead. Narrow graded gravel road. It was spooky and romantic in the forest with the water dripping and the birds singing musically. Being in the presence of the trees made my heart beat hard. This was taken November 5th.
Kauris are in the araucaria family, ancient conifers that evolved hundreds of millions of years ago. For those who know the Bunya-Bunya and Monkey Puzzles, it's the same family. Kauris are very different in form from them. They grow straight and tall for about 300 years (!!) and then begin to branch, getting a rounded crown at the top. Kind of reminded me of our redwoods. There are almost no kauri forests left, just like the redwoods. Young ones were used for ship masts, and big ones like this could provide enough lumber to build several houses....And they used to gather the resin, the sap--it was called kauri gum. Used it in varnishes, etc. It's like amber.
I think kauris only grow on the North Island, could be wrong though!
2 comments:
This kauri was just a baby. They commonly get up to 6m (20 ft) in diameter. The Araucaria family has two genera - Araucaria and Agathis, which look quite different. Although the majority were cut down for lumber, they are making a rapid come back. They grow like weeds at Anne's place, even sprouting on the deck. Distribution is limited to the upper half of the North Is. which matches with the extent of the ice cap in the last ice age. Beeches recolonised much faster when the ice retreated.
You have to come to California and see our giant Sequoias and coast redwoods. Seriously. The sequoias are really reminiscent of your kauris.
Cheers! First time online in a while.
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