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Overview
Nancy Adams was one of New Zealand’s most prolific botanists, and a talented artist. She produced a vast number of botanical illustrations, which were included in widely-distributed and well-regarded books about New Zealand flora. One of these books is New Zealand Native Trees, a field guide published across two books as part of the ‘Mobil New Zealand Nature Series’.
In her introduction to New Zealand Native Trees (1), Adams provides beautiful and comprehensive descriptions of the three types of New Zealand forest - podocarp-mixed broafleaf, kauri, and beech - suggesting which species of tree may be found there and on which level of the forest they might grow. She also describes the growth of native trees in areas other than the forest, on farmland, riparian areas and coasts, writing:
To make a study of native trees does not mean an excursion to remote and untouched areas of forest. Throughout New Zealand there are many large and small patches and pockets of native vegetation where a number of different trees may be seen.
The 35 species described in this book are illustrated with their own watercolour plates which depict the fully grown tree, the young tree, a branch of adult foliage, and an enlargement of the tree’s reproductive structure (i.e the fruit or seed cones). These helpful visual guides are accompanied by rich and engaging text describing the trees’ appearance, reproductive patterns, and habitat preferences. These descriptions evoke both the precise scientific accuracy and the warm, often whimsical accessibility that was also the hallmark of Adams’ illustrative style.
In her description of manawa, she writes:
MANAWA or mangrove is a small tree that grows to height of about 8m (25 ft) although it is more often much shorter. Like its tropical relatives, mangrove grows in tidal mud about our northern coasts where it is surrounded by water at high tide. At low water the upright 'breathing' roots may by seen standing above the mud. Mangrove trunks are hoary and gray. Old trees have rather twisted and gnarled branches. The foliage is a rich olive green; the leaves are leathery with prominent veins. The small flowers are followed by masses of yellowish-buff, velvety-coated fruits. These fruits fall with well developed cotyledons and very quickly develop a short stem and roots when they are washed up by the receding tide. The various stages of the developing seedlings may be found at high tide mark near mangrove swamps. Mangrove is found only in the North Island, north of Kawhia and Opotiki. It is very abundant where conditions are suitable for its growth."