Where found:

• Forest margins, clearings and around swamps
  
• Up to 750 metres
  

• Tall straight trunked tree with dense round tufted head, as the tree gets older the trunk branches
  
• Leaves are long and narrow (30-100cm x 3-6cm)
  
• Large flower panicles (60cm-1.5m x 30-60cm) with strongly scented flowers, the buds have a slight pink tinge and the flowers are white or creamy white, flowering in late spring to early summer
  
• The bark is thick, corky and rough
  
• Insects are attracted to the flowers and their nectar in large numbers
  
• The pith and roots of young trees was used by the Maori to make a kind of porridge, and was also used by early settlers as chimneys for huts
• Fruits small (approx. 4mm) round, whitish.