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Glite Dictionary
Podocarpus totara

Podocarpus totara

9.9
A large evergreen tree from New Zealand that has hard reddish wood used for furniture and piers
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : podocarpo totara
  • Furniture crafted from Podocarpus totara is prized for its durability and attractive color.

Examples

  • The conservation of native Podocarpus totara forests is important for preserving New Zealand's biodiversity.

  • The massive trunk of the Podocarpus totara makes it ideal for building traditional Maori canoes.

  • The Podocarpus totara is a majestic tree.

  • Many builders prefer Podocarpus totara for its durability.

  • The strong, reddish wood of the Podocarpus totara is often used in the construction of durable outdoor furniture.

  • Carpenters favor Podocarpus totara for making sturdy wharves and bridges due to its high resistance to decay.

  • The Podocarpus totara tree thrives in New Zealand's climate and is valued for its quality timber.

Synonyms

totara
vsPodocarpus totara
  • New Zealand
9.9

A tall New Zealand tree with hard reddish wood used for furniture and boats

is the formal botanical name for the same species

Surface Forms

Podocarpus totara singular
Podocarpus totaras plural

Morphology

Podocarpus + totara

Both constituents denote tree types: 'Podocarpus' (evergreen trees/shrubs) and 'totara' (a tall New Zealand tree). A B1 learner who knows these words can infer this is a particular kind of tree (genus + species), and the binomial naming is compositional rather than idiomatic, so the meaning is readily derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Podocarpus totara comes from the Māori word tōtara, a large native tree whose strong, reddish wood was long used for canoes, bridges and furniture. That's why the name today refers to a big evergreen tree valued for its hard, lasting timber.