Porcelain bowl featuring a drawing of rewarewa by NZ artist Jo Luping. Rewarewa, also calles New Zealand honeywuckle, is one of New Aealand's tallest trees growing to over 35 meters in height.
Juvenile leaves grow to 30 centimetres long and are thin and coarsely toothed. Adult leaves are thick, bluntly toothed and only half as long. In spring, rewarewa has clusters of dark reddish-brown bottle-brush flowers. When open, the petals coil into tight spirals, exposing long styles (the female part of the flower). The flowers are pollinated by tūī and bellbirds, which drink the nectar. The fruits are dry, brown capsules that split open to release small winged seeds.
Rewarewa wood has prominent rays. When cut on the radius it produces attractive, silvery red-brown timber, used in inlay and decorative work. In the past it was used to make bush tramways, brake blocks and swingletrees (crossbars between a horse and vehicle).
Diameter: 10 cm
