Rimu
Rimu (
Dacrydium cupressinum) is a large
evergreen coniferous tree native to the forests of
New Zealand. It is also known as "red pine", although this name is misleading since it is not a
pine, and
other trees also have the same name.
Rimu grows throughout New Zealand, on the
North Island,
South Island and
Stewart Island, although most trees are now found on the
West Coast of the South Island.
The tree can grow as high as
50 m tall, though most surviving large trees are 20-35 m tall. Male and female cones grow on separate trees, and the fertilised seeds are held on the female tree for 15 months. The breeding cycle of the
Kakapo has been linked to rimu's fruiting cycle.
Historically, Rimu and other native trees such as
Kauri and
Totara were the main sources of wood for New Zealand, including
furniture and
house construction. However, many of New Zealand's original stands of Rimu have been destroyed, and recent government policies forbid the felling of Rimu in public forests, though allowing limited logging on private land.
Pinus radiata has now replaced Rimu in most industries, although Rimu remains popular for the production of high quality wooden furniture.
In
Polynesian mythology,
Rimu is a god of the dead.
Category:Polynesian gods\nCategory:Death gods
