Common Name: Northern Rata

General Information

Metrosideros robusta is an evergreen tree that can grow up to30 metres tall with a trunk up to 300cm in diameter[]
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is often grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its floral display.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

New Zealand - south to latitude 42° 30' south, North and South Islands

Habitat

Coastal to lower montane forest[]. Often found as an epiphyte, sending its roots down through the moss surrounding its host[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	6.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Metrosideros robusta is not very hardy in the temperate zone, succeeding outdoors only in the mildest regions where it will often only make a small shrub[, , ].
Prefers a well-drained but moisture-retentive lime-free soil in a sunny position[, ]. Plants are somewhat lime-tolerant but are unsuitable for shallow soils over chalk[]. Very resistant to maritime exposure[].
The plant commonly starts life as an epiphyte,sending roots down around the trunk of the host tree, eventually strangling the host and then joining its roots up to form one single trunk[]..
A very ornamental plant[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

An edible nectar is obtained from the flowers[].

Medicinal

The inner bark is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery[]. It is used as a poultice to cover infected areas[].

An infusion of the bark is used to treat dysentery[].
A lotion made from the bark is applied locally to treat various pains, ringworm and venereal disease[]. A cold water infusion of the bark is used externally to treat aches and pains[]. A poultice made from the bark is applied topically to all kinds of sores, wounds, abcesses[].
The bark is boiled or crushed when fresh, then steeped overnight. The liquid is drained and applied to bruises. It is said to be a fast and effective remedy[].

The flowers and the bark, mixed with honey is used to treat sore throat[]

The honey obtained from the flowers is used to treat sore throats[].

Young leaves chewed and applied to hollow of sore tooth[].

The sap from short lengths of vine is blown on wounds292].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can be used as a hedge, succeeding in exposed maritime positions[, ].

Other Uses

The red wood is straight-grained, dense, hard, heavy, very strong and durable[, , ]. It is hard, but not durable[]. It can be obtained in long lengths up to 120cm thick[]. It is used for bridges, carriages, ship building, cabinet making, construction, bearings etc[, , , ].

A somewhat different description of the wood is given below.
The heart-wood can be plum-coloured with purplish streaks, the sapwood is a dark reddish-brown. The wood is dense, heavy, and immensely strong. It shrinks considerably on drying, is hard on machinery, and is not very stable in use, nor is it very durable. In addition, the wood and its grain are often very distorted because of the way the tree grows, and hollow trees are common[].
The timber has been used for bridges, ship’s timbers, houses and furniture. It is popular with woodturners because of the beautiful, warped reddish grain, but it can be very difficult to turn when it is dry. The wood tends to produce hair-cracks, burrs are very hard to turn, but it holds its colour well[].
A very hot burning firewood[]

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a warm greenhouse and only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Give the plants some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, in individual pots in a frame. Good percentage[].