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Kōrero: Conifers

Mataī and kahikatea foliage

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Mataī and kahikatea foliage

The adult mataī (top) has needle-like foliage. Kahikatea (bottom) has tiny, flat leaves on young plants and scale-like leaves on adult branches. Both leaf forms can be seen on this branch from a juvenile kahikatea tree.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10049483 (top); 10049532 (bottom)

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Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Maggy Wassilieff, Conifers – What are conifers?, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/12639/matai-and-kahikatea-foliage (accessed 5 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Maggy Wassilieff, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.