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Current Threat Status : Naturally Uncommon
Threat Status in 2004: Sparse
Species : Libocedrus plumosa
Authority : Libocedrus plumosa (D.Don) Sarg.
Qualifier :
Family : Cupressaceae
Common Name* : Kawaka, kaikawaka, NZ cedar
Synonyms : Thuja doniana Hook., Libocedrus doniana (Hook.) Endl.
Distribution : Endemic. North and South Islands. In the North present from Te Paki (Radar Bush) south to about the southern Kawhia Harbour (in the west) and near Gisborne (in the East), thence disjunct to north-west Nelson, where it grows locally around the Golden Bay area from about Puponga south to the Anatori River.
Habitat : Coastal to lowland mixed broadleaf/hardwood forest. Often found in association with kauri (Agathis australis (D.Don.) Lindl.). Often on ridge lines, spurs, or forming apparently even-aged cohorts in sites of former major disturbance, such as in or around stabllised slips, slumps, or areas of major wind throw damage. This species tends to colonise more fertile soils and soils overlying high fertility (base-rich) substrates.
Features : Eevergreen, monoecious tree up to 35 m tall, 2-3 m d.b.h. Bark thin, scaly, light-brown to greyish-brown, peeling readily in long irregular, inrolled strips. Branches spreading or ascending, branchlets numerous, spreading, arrange din dense sprays in tiers above each other, forming a pyramidal crown in young trees, becoming conical, rounded or irregular in older specimens. Foliage in flattened sprays except when cone-bearing, ultimate branches subopposite to alternate, 15-35 x 2-6 mm, leafy, flattened, long persistent. Leaves decussate, on lateral branchlets shortly decurrent, imbricate, dimorphic, rhombic 1-2 x 1 mm, apiculate to acute, appressed, partially covered at base by 2-6 x 1.5-2 mm, divergent, bilaterally flattened, slightly curved laterals with entire margins and free apices; leave son older trees smaller and monomorphic. Male cones terminal. solitary, subglobose to ovoid, 3-5 mm, yellowish-green, maturing light brown. Female cones terminal subtended by weakly dimorphic leaves; comprising 2 decussate pairs of acute 4-6 mm long, spreading bracts subtended by 3-4 pairs of similar, gradually shorter leaves, the upper pair developing within one growing season to become thin, woody, and forming a cone 12-18 mm long. Seeds 2-4, ovoid, flattened, with an acute apex 3-5 mm long, brown, with a whitish hilum and 2 opposite, thin membranous wings of very unequal shape and size, the smaller a narrow strip less than 1 mm wide, the larger irregular oval-oblong, 6-8 x 3-4.5 mm, yellowish-brown.
Similar Taxa : Libocedrus bidwillii Hook.f. is some what similar but within the range of L. plumosa it is confined to montane cloud forests (> 600 m.a.s.l.). It differs by the more or less quadrangular ultimate branchlets, nearly monomorphic leaves, and by the bracts subtending the cone bacts being less than or about 1/3 the size of the actual cone scales.
Flowering : July - September
Fruiting : July - June
Propagation Technique : Easily grown from fresh seed which germinates within 4-8 months of sowing. An attractive conifer that makes and excellent specimen tree. It does best in a free draining, moderately fertile and moist soil, though once established it can tolerate considerable drought. It is moderately cold hardy but dislikes severe frosts. This species does not like much competition from other broad-leaf trees and to do best it should be planted as solitary specimens or as a monospecific plantings (in a stand).
Threats : A widespread and at times locally common, though generally naturally sparse species. Although it was logged when suitable trees were found its general scarcity meant that logging has had little effect on its overall distribution and abundance. This species may even have benefitted from past logging because it is at its most abundant in places that were once heavily logged, and/or burned. In fact field evidence suggests that Libocedrus plumosa needs regular disturbance to maintain itself.
Where to Buy : Can be purchased from Oratia Native Plant Nurseries (info@oratianatives.co.nz)
Chromosome No. : 2n = 22
Endemic Taxon : Yes
Endemic Genus : No
Endemic Family : No
Cultural Use/Importance :
 * Please note that Common Names are not standardised.