Native Tree Writing

 Before last week our class was writing about native tree in New Zealand.My friend Jordyn and I were both doing Rata Tree together . We made a poster based on the Rata tree also we made a slide show too. 

There are three species of the Rātā tree. They are called the Northern Rātā tree, Southern Rātā and the Bartlett Rātā tree. Rata trees can be seen from a long distance away because of their bright red flowers and dark green leaves. Rātā trees, along with the Pōhutukawa, are one of the best known native trees in New Zealand.The scientific name for the Rata tree is Metrosideros Umbellata and for the Northern Rata is Metrosideros Robusta also the scientific name for the Bartlett’s Rata tree is Metrosideros Bartlettii.It usually started life as a plant in the forest like the other trees. Then the Rata tree starts to grow into a huge Rata tree. That produces the tree up to 25 meters high.  Did you know that the Rata and Pohutukawa are known New Zealand’s native Christmas trees because of their bright red flowers that bloom during the Christmas season.The Northern Rata trees are the one of the tallest flowering trees.Mostly Rata trees flowers are bright red but   White or yellow flowers are also known. Flowering usually occurs between December and February, but this depends on the condition of the tree.  The Rata tree is related to the Pohutukawa tree, they both bloom at Christmas time.