Herb: Tanekaha


Latin name: Phyllocladus trichomanoides


Family: Podocarpaceae (Podocarpus Family)



Medicinal use of Tanekaha:

Astringent.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Evergreen
Tree

Height:
8 m
(26 feet)

Habitat of the herb:

Lowland forests on North and South Islands, south to latitude 42°s.

Other uses of Tanekaha:

A red dye is obtained from the bark. It is orange-yellow. The bark is astringent, it is a very rich source of tannin. Wood - very strong, dense, heavy. Used for mine props, sleepers etc. A much valued timber in New Zealand.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - sow late winter in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings in a sandy soil in a cool or slightly warm frame in spring.

Cultivation of Tanekaha:

Lowland forests on North and South Islands, south to latitude 42°s.

Known hazards of Phyllocladus trichomanoides:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.