Matai

Matai may refer to:

People with the surname

Matai (Maucatar)

Matai is a village (suco) located on northeast of Suai in East Timor. It is part of Maucatar Subdistrict, Cova Lima District.

Geography and politics

Matai has four sub-villages (Aldeias):

Each of these villages has its own leaders (Chefe de Aldeia) which under the Village Leader of Matai.

Current Leaders:

Sub-Village Leaders (Chefe de Aldeia):

Culture

Matai is a well known in Suai for its 'TUA MORUK'( is a kind of local alcohol made out of palm or palm wine), according to people of Suai is the best palm wine in Cova Lima. Bunak and Tetun Terik are the main language in Matai.

Matai has one main Football Club called 'HASUMA' (Halibur Suco Matai)

History

In 1999 the two pro-Independence Marshal Amaral Cortereal, together with Mr. Felisberto, were captured in Matai and took away by the Militia group( LAKSAUR) and murdered in Salele village. Their corpse recovered in 2010 through an Autopsy.

Prumnopitys taxifolia

Prumnopitys taxifolia (mataī or black pine) is an endemic New Zealand coniferous tree that grows on the North Island and South Island. It also occurs on Stewart Island/Rakiura (47 °S) but is uncommon there.

It grows up to 40 m high, with a trunk up to 2 m diameter. The leaves are linear to sickle-shaped, 10–15 mm long and 1.5–2 mm broad. The seed cones are highly modified, reduced to a central stem 3–4 cm long bearing 1-6 scales, each scale maturing berry-like, 10–15 mm long, violet-purple with a soft edible pulp covering the single seed. The seeds are dispersed by the kererū (New Zealand pigeon), which eats the 'berries' and passes the seeds in its droppings.

Classification

The scientific name taxifolia derives from the resemblance of the leaves to those of the yew (Taxus). In the past the species, like the other species of Prumnopitys, was often included in Podocarpus; in this species under the name Podocarpus spicatus. It is distinguished from Prumnopitys ferruginea (miro) by the shorter, more slender leaves and the globose violet-purple cones.