Story: Evolution of plants and animals

Hutu branch

Hutu branch

Hutu (Ascarina lucida), a small tree that is endemic to New Zealand, is one of the country’s more primitive trees. However, it is thought to have arrived in the last 10 million years. Even some primitive life forms are recent arrivals, rather than living in New Zealand continuously since the land split from Gondwana 85 million years ago.

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Photograph by Margaret Lovell-Smith

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How to cite this page:

Matt McGlone, 'Evolution of plants and animals - Distinctive qualities', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/12435/hutu-branch (accessed 24 April 2024)

Story by Matt McGlone, published 24 Sep 2007