When the sun came out on Friday afternoon last week I stopped the car by the Pauatahanui Inlet with my camera in the hope that I would catch some photos.
Several birds flew away at my approach so I began to trudge back to the car when this partly uprooted tree caught my eye.
It is a Brush Wattle or Stink Bomb tree.
Brush Wattle is not a true wattle and it is considered a pest here in New Zealand. The seeds from the tree when crushed let off a vile and pungent smell that most children know about and enjoy annoying adults with.
The sun was illuminating the trunk of the Stink Bomb tree and dramatically showing the Tapa cloth like patterns on the smooth bark.
I was genuinely surprised at the beauty of this bark.
ordinarygoodness 
You really caught those patterns. It’s as if the tree has been tattooed.
Thanks Juliet. It was just the way the sun caught the slightly uprooted trunk that made me take a closer look at what I had assumed was just another Stink Bomb tree. Isn’t nature impressive. You are right about the tattoo look.
This is a new tree for me. I am thinking snake skins! It is very beautiful.
I will post some photos of a Brush Wattle. You may well recognise it in wilder areas of land. I thought snake skins too and so beautiful.
Wow. I have never seen such a pattern on a tree. If I were an artist, it would definitely inspire me to paint something similar.
This is bark patterning is new to me too. I imagine an artist would be inspired by these patterns.
Oh, didn’t you do well spotting those patterns, they’re beautiful! The bark looks quite smooth – is it? And is it only the seeds which give off a nasty smell? I don’t know this tree at all – is it found through the whole country, or just in the North Island? (Sorry ’bout all the questions! 🙂 )
I was surprised to find this trunk and its splendid bark. It is the seeds that once crushed give off an almighty pong. I will have to do some research to answer your other questions….and return to the tree to touch the bark and take some photos of the foliage.
What a nice patterns. Thanks for sharing!