Fauna
Plant

Totara

Podocarpus totara

Also known as Totara Tree, Maori Totara

Totara trees dominate lowland native forests across New Zealand, growing massive furrowed trunks covered in thick, papery bark that peels in stringy strips. Their spiky olive-green needles form dense crowns that provide vital nesting structure and shelter for native birds like the kereru and tui. Revered in Maori culture as a symbol of strength, this ancient gymnosperm can survive for over a millennium in well-drained soils.

EndemicEvergreenAncient Tree
Totara reference1 / 7
(c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jon Sullivan · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil nutrients
Predators
  • Brushtail Possum
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, historical logging, browsing by introduced possums
HabitatsLowland forest, montane forest, river terraces, pasture margins
Life span500–1,000+ years
Classification
  1. FamilyPodocarpaceae
  2. SpeciesPodocarpus totara
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Wild berries and cones have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild plant parts based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Bark Identification: Look for thick, reddish-brown bark peeling in long, fibrous strips along the trunk.
  • Foliage Check: Note the rigid, sharp-pointed needles arranged all around the branchlets.
  • Root Protection: Avoid compacting soil around roots of large old-growth specimens when walking nearby.
Related species
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