Kowhai

Trees / Kowhai

Information for Juniors

Found throughout NZ more densely near the coast
The word Kowhai means yellow in Maori
Kowhai seeds are poisonous to humans
They grow from a seed to become trees 25m
Its leaves are small, and its juvenile branches get twisted and tangled
Native birds like Tui, Bellbird, Kereru love the nectar in yellow flowers
The Kowhai produces pods of yellow brown seeds
Each pod holds 6 or more smooth black or yellow seeds
Maori value the Kowhai tree for its hard wood and its medicinal properties
Kowhai are semi deciduous i.e. they lose most of their leaves after flowering and you think the tree is dead but generally about December they produce new leaves
Each Kowhai tree grows at its own speed and trees of the same age can vary greatly from each other
The Maori used the Kowhai in construction, for a source of yellow dye and in their medicines to treat wounds.

Information for Junior Secondary

Found throughout NZ more densely near the coast
The word Kowhai means yellow in Maori
Kowhai seeds are poisonous to humans
They grow from a seed to become trees 25m
Its leaves are small, and its juvenile branches get twisted and tangled
Native birds like Tui, Bellbird, Kereru love the nectar in yellow flowers
The Kowhai produces pods of yellow brown seeds
Each pod holds 6 or more smooth black or yellow seeds
Maori value the Kowhai tree for its hard wood and its medicinal properties
Kowhai are semi deciduous i.e. they lose most of their leaves after flowering and you think the tree is dead but generally about December they produce new leaves
Each Kowhai tree grows at its own speed and trees of the same age can vary greatly from each other
The Maori used the Kowhai in construction, for a source of yellow dye and in their medicines to treat wounds

Information for Seniors

Found throughout NZ more densely near the coast
The word Kowhai means yellow in Maori
Kowhai seeds are poisonous to humans
They grow from a seed to become trees 25m
Its leaves are small, and its juvenile branches get twisted and tangled
Native birds like Tui, Bellbird, Kereru love the nectar in yellow flowers
The Kowhai produces pods of yellow brown seeds
Each pod holds 6 or more smooth black or yellow seeds
Maori value the Kowhai tree for its hard wood and its medicinal properties
Kowhai are semi deciduous i.e. they lose most of their leaves after flowering and you think the tree is dead but generally about December they produce new leaves
Each Kowhai tree grows at its own speed and trees of the same age can vary greatly from each other
The Maori used the Kowhai in construction, for a source of yellow dye and in their medicines to treat wounds.

Can you find 5 different varieties of Kowhai?
Can you capture a photo of a Tui or any other bird with its beak inside a Kowhai flower?
Draw a picture of a single yellow flower