Story: Shrubs and small trees of the forest

Ribbonwood

Ribbonwood

Ribbonwood (Plagianthus regius), or mānatu, grows on fertile soils in lowland forest, along river terraces and at the margins of forest. It can grow to a height of 17 metres, making it New Zealand’s tallest deciduous tree. As an adult it develops a tall trunk with wide spreading limbs, but in its juvenile form it is a small-leaved, highly-branched, slender bush. Like the lacebarks, ribbonwood has an inner layer of bark made up of net-like layers.

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Photographs by Iona Wassilieff

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How to cite this page:

Joanna Orwin, 'Shrubs and small trees of the forest - Lacebarks and ribbonwoods', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/13825/ribbonwood (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Joanna Orwin, published 24 Sep 2007, updated 1 Jul 2015