Native seed catalogue

Dacrycarpus dacrydioides White pine | Kahikatea

This guide is based on a literature review. It compiles information from various sources. Different sources may offer varying advice and findings.

Other known names

Kahika.

Propagation summary

Poor germination rates. Seeds are difficult to store. Can be grown from cuttings.

Seed propagation category

Hard.

Reproductive system

Dioecious — can only collect seeds from female plants.(1)

Seed collection

Has mast seed years(2) (masting is when a tree produces a lot of seeds every few years). Seeds ripen between March–May.(3) Seeds can be dispersed by birds.(4)

Seed storage

Seeds are recalcitrant (seeds do not survive drying and freezing) and sensitive to desiccation (extreme dryness).(5), (6)

Seed dormancy

Germination happens between 2–8 weeks.(1) Another study reports germination takes 2–4 months.(3)

Pre-sowing treatments

Seeds need cold stratification (stratification is the process of chilling seeds to promote germination).(7)

Germination

Germination rate of 15% at 8 weeks after sowing.(8)

Propagation techniques

Can be propagated by cuttings with higher success when collected in autumn. Can take 2–6 months to form roots.(1)

Research opportunities

Germination, seed viability, and vegetative propagation need further investigation.

Information about the native seed profiles

All species names are in the following order: scientific name, common name, and Māori name. Names may vary by region. We have tried to use the most common names across New Zealand.

We have sourced photos from different websites and creators. We have used the images under different licences. These include Public Domain and Creative Commons licenses. For Dacrycarpus dacrydioides, the image details are:

The basis for each seed profile is a literature review carried out by Scion. Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service commissioned and worked on the review to produce a native seed catalogue. The full seed catalogue is on the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website.

Native afforestation research programme: Seed propagation catalogue

References

1.

Harris, A; Dibley, M; Steward, G; Faulds, C; Harington P S (2017) Handbook: Propagation of four New Zealand podocarps. Scion; Rotorua, New Zealand (confidential).

2.

Olsen, M; Millner, J; Ries, T; Douglas, B (2024) Native afforestation: Review of germination. MPI Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service Technical Paper No: 2024/03.

3.

Metcalf, L J (1995) The propagation of New Zealand native plants. Godwit; Auckland, New Zealand.

4.

Carpenter, J K; Kelly, D; Clout, M N; Karl, B J; Ladle, J J (2017) Trends in the detection of a large frugivore (Hemiphaga novaeseelandia) and fleshy-fruited seed dispersal over three decades. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 41(1), 41–46.

5.

Fountain, D W; Holdsworth, J M; Outred, H A (2008) The dispersal unit of Dacrycarpus dacrydioides (A. Rich.) de Laubenfels (Podocarpaceae) and the significance of the fleshy receptacle. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 99(3), 197–207.

6.

Wyse, S V; Carlin, T F; Etherington, T R; Faruk, A; Dickie, J B; Bellingham, P J (2024) Can seed banking assist in conserving the highly endemic New Zealand indigenous flora? Pacific Conservation Biology 30, PC23029.

7.

Fountain, D W; Outred, H A (1991) Germination requirements of New Zealand native plants: a review. New Zealand Journal of Botany 29(3), 311–316.

8.

Ford, C; Lloyd, A (2023) Germination of native species seed after cold treatment, surface sterilisation and soaking in 1% hydrogen peroxide. MPI Te Uru Rākau - New Zealand Forest Service Technical Paper No 2023/01

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