pōhutukawa

pōhutukawa or pohutukawa (puh-hu-tuh-KAH-wuh) - n., a New Zealand tree (Metrosideros excelsa) with crimson flowers and silvery leaves below.


Said flowers bloom during the Christmas season, thus its also being called New Zealand Christmas tree, and because its red wood is hard, also called iron tree. A myrtle, btw, if you're wondering. Name is from Maori, no surprise there, from pō-, -like + hutu, the fish-poison tree (Barringtonia asiatica, which has similar flowers and is native to islands of the western Pacific whence the Maori migrated) + kawa , bitter.


Thanks, WikiMedia!


And that wraps up a week of plants, mainly trees. Back next week with random words words words.

---L.