It grows up to 25 m high, with a trunk up to 1.3 m diameter. The leaves are linear to sickle-shaped, 15–25 mm long and 2–3 mm broad, with downcurved margins. The plants are dioecious with pollen cones being solitary while those of female plants hang from a curved, scaly stalk. The seed cones are highly modified, reduced to a central stem 2–3 cm long bearing 1-3 scales, each scale maturing berry-like, oval, about 20 mm long and 10–15 mm broad, red to purple-red with a soft edible pulp covering the single seed. The seeds are dispersed by the New Zealand pigeon, which eats the very conspicuous 'berries' and passes the seeds in its droppings. It is found growing on both lowland terrain and on hill slopes throughout the two main islands as well as on Stewart Island/Rakiura (47° S).[2] The Tree can live for at least 600 years.[2]
The scientific name ferruginea derives from the rusty colour of dried herbarium specimens of the leaves. The Māori name miro comes from the Proto-Polynesian word milo which refers to the Pacific rosewood (Thespesia populnea) in tropical islands far north.[3]
Distinguishing miro from mataiedit
Miro is distinguished from the related, and (initially) very similar looking matai (Prumnopitys taxifolia) in four aspects of its anatomy; its cones, bark, seeds and leaves.
Miro trees have longer, broader leaves with green undersides while those of matai leaves are white. In addition, the leaves of miro generally narrow to a point, whereas those of matai are rounded, sometimes with a small point right at the very tip. Fine, flat, feathery foliage.
Miro trees have cones of some hue of red in colour while those of matai are blue-black.
Miro also have relatively longer cones which are oval and red in colour.
Like matai, the bark of more mature miro trees flakes off to leave a distinctive "hammer mark pattern", but unlike matai, the pattern is not as pronounced nor as colourful (areas from which bark flakes have recently fallen in matai often have a striking red colour that fades over time back to brown). these leaves take up to 3 years to decompose.
Miro foliage
Referencesedit
^Farjon, A. (2013). "Prumnopitys ferruginea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T42538A2985892. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42538A2985892.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ abEagle, Audrey (2008). Eagle's complete trees and shrubs of New Zealand volume one. Wellington: Te Papa Press. p. 4. ISBN9780909010089.
^"Miro". Te Māra Reo: The Language Garden. Benton Family Trust. 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Prumnopitys ferruginea.
Nature guide to the New Zealand forest, John Dawson and Rob Lucas, Godwit, 2000
The Trees of New Zealand, L. Cockyane, E. Phillips Turner, Government printer, 1943
Trees and shrubs of New Zealand, A.L. Poole and N.M. Adams, Government printer, 1963
October 31, 2023
prumnopitys, ferruginea, commonly, called, miro, evergreen, coniferous, tree, which, endemic, zealand, before, genus, prumnopitys, distinguished, treated, related, genus, podocarpus, podocarpus, ferrugineus, miroconservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scient. Prumnopitys ferruginea commonly called miro is an evergreen coniferous tree which is endemic to New Zealand Before the genus Prumnopitys was distinguished it was treated in the related genus Podocarpus as Podocarpus ferrugineus MiroConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade GymnospermsDivision PinophytaClass PinopsidaOrder AraucarialesFamily PodocarpaceaeGenus PrumnopitysSpecies P ferrugineaBinomial namePrumnopitys ferruginea G Benn ex D Don de Laub It grows up to 25 m high with a trunk up to 1 3 m diameter The leaves are linear to sickle shaped 15 25 mm long and 2 3 mm broad with downcurved margins The plants are dioecious with pollen cones being solitary while those of female plants hang from a curved scaly stalk The seed cones are highly modified reduced to a central stem 2 3 cm long bearing 1 3 scales each scale maturing berry like oval about 20 mm long and 10 15 mm broad red to purple red with a soft edible pulp covering the single seed The seeds are dispersed by the New Zealand pigeon which eats the very conspicuous berries and passes the seeds in its droppings It is found growing on both lowland terrain and on hill slopes throughout the two main islands as well as on Stewart Island Rakiura 47 S 2 The Tree can live for at least 600 years 2 The scientific name ferruginea derives from the rusty colour of dried herbarium specimens of the leaves The Maori name miro comes from the Proto Polynesian word milo which refers to the Pacific rosewood Thespesia populnea in tropical islands far north 3 Distinguishing miro from matai editMiro is distinguished from the related and initially very similar looking matai Prumnopitys taxifolia in four aspects of its anatomy its cones bark seeds and leaves Miro trees have longer broader leaves with green undersides while those of matai leaves are white In addition the leaves of miro generally narrow to a point whereas those of matai are rounded sometimes with a small point right at the very tip Fine flat feathery foliage Miro trees have cones of some hue of red in colour while those of matai are blue black Miro also have relatively longer cones which are oval and red in colour Like matai the bark of more mature miro trees flakes off to leave a distinctive hammer mark pattern but unlike matai the pattern is not as pronounced nor as colourful areas from which bark flakes have recently fallen in matai often have a striking red colour that fades over time back to brown these leaves take up to 3 years to decompose nbsp Miro foliageReferences edit Farjon A 2013 Prumnopitys ferruginea IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013 e T42538A2985892 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2013 1 RLTS T42538A2985892 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 a b Eagle Audrey 2008 Eagle s complete trees and shrubs of New Zealand volume one Wellington Te Papa Press p 4 ISBN 9780909010089 Miro Te Mara Reo The Language Garden Benton Family Trust 2023 Retrieved June 17 2023 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Prumnopitys ferruginea Nature guide to the New Zealand forest John Dawson and Rob Lucas Godwit 2000 The Trees of New Zealand L Cockyane E Phillips Turner Government printer 1943 Trees and shrubs of New Zealand A L Poole and N M Adams Government printer 1963 Gymnosperm Database Prumnopitys ferruginea Photos of tree and foliage with cones Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prumnopitys ferruginea amp oldid 1167031993, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
