Kauri is a magnificent pine tree that grows 82 to 100 feet (25 to 30 meters) high. The kauri sometimes grows 65 feet (20 meters) high without branching. It has ash-colored bark that peels off in heavy flakes. The rather broad leaves grow without stalks. The leaves are reddish-brown when young, but turn a soft green. The kauri is a spreading tree with leafy branches. The timber is used for cabinet work. Kauri gum (resin) is used for ornaments. Sometimes insects or leaves become embedded in the resin before it hardens. Kauris grow in New Zealand. They were once common, but many have been cut down or destroyed in bushfires.
