Tipuana tipu (Rosewood)

Tipuana tipu, also known as Tipa, Rosewood and Pride of Bolivia, is a South American tree. Main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown. It has a large canopy cover, often greater than its height, and is consequently favoured as a shade tree. It has reddish-brown fissured bark, and opposite leaves along the leaf stalk. Leaves are approximately 3-5cm long by 1.2-2cm wide, with 'buttock-shaped' tips. The bright yellow flowers (up to 2.2cm in diameter) occur in leaf-less racemes (an inflorescence of stalked flowers with the youngest at the top). H 30m x W 20m in the wild, and to about 10m tall in New Zealand.