Free-flowering Pohutukawa

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 158, 1 April 1937, Page 13

Free-flowering Pohutukawa

Sir, —-Several weeks ago my attention was drawn to a pohutukawa tree in the Roseneath portion of the Town Belt, This tree had already bloomed profusely, and was rather prolonged, as has been the way this season. A few stray blooms were then on the tree, and naturally gave one reason for regarding the tree as just finishing blooming. Now, however, this tree presents quite a fair sprinkling of crimson bloom, three months after the normal time for flowering. Surely this is unusual (if not unique), and perhaps some Nature-lover has noticed the phenomenon of flowers and well-developed seed receptacles on the tree together, in other districts. This information should prove interesting, and especially so if any information should come from parts where the tree is indigenous. Probably there is a good reason for this phenomenon, and I suggest that the sheltered position of the tree and the unusually dull weather this season are contributing causes. Apparently the pohutukawa is not the only tree misbehaving itself, as I have also noticed, recently, a few red flowers on a branch of a common variety of pittosporum, very numerous in our reserves. This tree is also in a sheltered position, and the blooms appear, together with almost ripe seed pods. While on the subject of trees, it also mav prove interesting to note that, perhaps the largest kauri tree that has been planted in the southern part of the North Island is growing almost alongside the tramway line, not 300 yards from the Wadestown terminus. This flourishing specimen of Agathis Australis is 30 to 40 feet in height, and between one and two feet in diameter. It stands out quite prominently, though not easily distinguished owing to the rather drab appearance of the foliage. As the age of this thriving tree must be 50 years and upward, I am sure there must be some storv, even history, attached to it —young though it may be by kauri standards. If any interested reader should be able to give some information about this tree, I am sure that we would find this tree has been really and truly growing with our own city.—l am, etc., METROSIDEROS. Wellington, March 30.