Tree-Kauri TB

Please drop this item in rural OR Premium Member Only caches.  Do not place it in an urban cache or abandon it at a caching event.  Transport the bug in the original plastic bag for as long as the bag lasts; the bag keeps the trackable clean and prevents tangling with other items.  Otherwise, take the travel bug anywhere you wish.  No permission is needed to leave the U.S.

Photos in the travel bug logs are appreciated.  I will be re-post them here, where they can be seen by other cachers.

This is one of a series of wooden rings named for famous, unusual trees. 

Agathis australis, commonly known by its Māori name kauri, is a coniferous tree found in the northern districts of New Zealand's North Island.  By volume, Kauri is one of the largest trees in the world. It is common in New Zealand and it can grow up to 150 ft tall and 45 ft in circumference.  Unlike redwoods that narrow up a bit as it stretches up, Kauri is a very consistent tree keeping its circumference from the ground to the top similar.  Its gum is often used for varnishing and its simply amazing density allows it survive after being buried.  In fact, a Kauri tree was buried in bogs for 50,000 years and after being dug up, it appears that the wood can still be used in many ways and it remains strong and sturdy.

Kauri forests are among the most ancient in the world. The antecedents of the kauri appeared during the Jurassic period (between 190 and 135 million years ago). Although the kauri is among the most ancient trees in the world, it has developed a unique niche in the forest. With its novel soil interaction and regeneration pattern it can compete with the more recently evolved and faster growing angiosperms. Because it is such a conspicuous species, forest containing kauri is generally known as kauri forest, although kauri need not be the most abundant tree. In the warmer northern climate, kauri forests have a higher species richness than those found further south.

The young plant grows straight upwards and has the form of a narrow cone with branches going out along the length of the trunk. However, as it gains in height, the lowest branches are shed, preventing vines from climbing.  The flaking bark of the kauri tree defends it from parasitic plants, and accumulates around the base of the trunk.  By maturity, the top branches form an imposing crown that stands out over all other native trees, dominating the forest canopy.