Kauri is a cone-bearing tree endemic to the North Island of
New Zealand North of
Auckland, although at one time it was present at one time it was present in the South Island, too. Other trees of this genus are found in
Australia,
New Guinea and
Indonesia.
A kauri may grow to a height of 37m and its trunk may be up to 4.5m in
diameter. The bark is thick and flaky and the leaves are leathery.
In the
nineteenth century, kauri timber was in high demand for
shipbuilding and other purposes and for a time it was feared that overcuting might
exterminate the species. However it has been found that the tree will
regenerate from seed and plans are now proceeding to grow far more of these trees.
The tree produces a
resin, or
gum, which may accumulate on the bark and eventually drop to the ground. It was known as "kauri gum," and there was a large trade in this during the
nineteenth century when
gum diggers harvested the
gum to
export over seas.
Sources:
http://www.gumdiggerspark.co.nz/TheTrees.htm
http://www.kauricoast.co.nz/Feature.cfm?WPID=214
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/aa/aa0406.html