Most plants on earth are hermaphrodites – they bear both male and female flowers. But the kahikatea, like most New Zealand conifers, has separate female (top) and male (bottom) plants. Many other New Zealand plant species also have male and female flowers on separate plants, which is unusual. One advantage is that female plants will out-cross to separate male plants, avoiding self pollination.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Department of Conservation
Reference:
10049535 (top); 10049534 (bottom)
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