Podocarpus totara (; the tōtara is a species of podocarp tree endemic to New Zealand. It grows throughout the North Island, South Island and rarely on Stewart Island / Rakiura in lowland, montane and lower subalpine forest at elevations of up to 600 m.
Podocarpus totara
Largest known living tōtara, the Pouakani Tree
Totara regenerating on farmland, Cook Flat, West Coast
Trunk of a tōtara tree (P. totara) in Prouse Bush, Levin, New Zealand
Podocarpus is a genus of conifers, the most numerous and widely distributed of the podocarp family, the Podocarpaceae. The name comes from Greek πούς + καρπός. Podocarpus species are evergreen shrubs or trees, usually from 1 to 25 m tall, known to reach 40 m (130 ft) at times. The cones have two to five fused cone scales, which form a fleshy, berry-like, brightly coloured receptacle at maturity. The fleshy cones attract birds, which then eat the cones and disperse the seeds in their droppings. About 97 to 107 species are placed in the genus depending on the circumscription of the species.
Podocarpus
Leaves of P. henkelii
Male cones of P. macrophyllus grow in clusters.
A seed cone of P. totara showing a red receptacle and a green epimatium