Kowhai

The name Kowhai comes from the Maori word for yellow - a reference to the colour of the flower.

Traditionally the Maori used the flexible branches as a construction material in their houses and to snare birds. The Kowhai flowers were a source of yellow dye. Maori also used the Kowhai tree as medicine. The bark was heated in a calabash gourd with hot stones, and made into a poultice to treat wounds or rubbed on a sore back or made into an infusion to treat bruising or muscular pains. If someone was bitten by a seal, an infusion (wai kōwhai) was prepared from Kowhai and applied to the wounds and the patient was said to recover within days.

The Kowhai flowers are a favoured food of Tui and Bellbirds in the forest and sparrows and wax-eyes in the home garden.

It's a good spring for the Kowhai trees this year, many are prolific with beautiful yellow flowers, wonder if it's an omen. A nice gentle image of New Zealand's national flower.

Weatherwise the morning started with promise but cloud had arrived by mid-morning followed with a few drops of rain, nothing that lasted but it is very dull.

Happy Saturday everyone :)

Scientific name: Sophora microphylla
Common name: Kowhai
Maori name: Kowhai