Classification
Class
Pinopsida
Order
Pinales Gorozh.
Family
Cupressaceae Gray
Genus
Libocedrus Endl.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Libocedrus bidwillii Hook.f., Handb. New Zealand Fl. 257 (1867)
Synonymy:
Type: New Zealand: South Island, Marlborough, Richmond Range, ["Nelson Mts."] J. C. Bidwill [ ex herb. W. J. Hooker] 126 (Holotype K)
Etymology:
The species was named after John C. Bidwill (1815–1853), who was an early botanical collector in New Zealand, and has sent many specimens to William Hooker, the first Director at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Vernacular Name(s):
Cedar (NZ); kaikawaka; New Zealand cedar; Pahau kokako; Pahautea
 Description

Tree up to 20 m., trunk up to 1 m. diam., bark falling in narrow thin strips. Branchlets distichous, of juveniles somewhat flattened up to 3 mm. broad, of adults tetragonous. Lvs quadrifarious; lateral in juveniles about 3 mm. long, dorsal and ventral c.1 mm.; in adults all lvs subsimilar, triangular, appressed, acute, c. 2 mm. long. Male strobili c. 2.5 mm. long, sporophylls 7–9, pend., apiculus thin, ovate. Female cones ovoid < 1 cm. long of 4 carpidia with projecting, dorsal, curved mucro. Seeds 2.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Farjon, A 2001: World Checklist and Bibliography of Conifers. Edition 2. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond.
Farjon, A. 2017: A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Edition 2. Btill, Leiden.
Hooker, J.D. 1867: Handbook of the New Zealand Flora: a systematic description of the native plants of New Zealand and the Chatham, Kermadec's, Lord Auckland's, Campbell's, and Macquarrie's Islands. Part II. Reeve, London.