Ewekuri (Large-leaved milk tree) Streblus banksii
Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(unranked):Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Tribe: Moreae
Genus: Streblus
Species: Streblus banksii
Synonym: Paratrophis banksii
Common Name(s): Ewekuri, Large-leaved milk tree, turepo
Ewekuri is an endemic tree up to 12m tall found in the North and South Islands in coastal and lowland preferring deep, fertile soils, large trees are often found on alluvial terraces. On offshore islands it seems more able to tolerate drier conditions and skeletal soils and may at times be found on steep cliff faces, rock ledges, or as stunted shrubs on cobble/boulder beaches.
It is a dioecious, robust tree or large shrub (depending on growing conditions) usually with a broad canopy crown and a trunk which has dark brown bark. When the tree is cut or damage it excluses a milky sap hence its common name the Large-leaved milk tree.
Branches ascending at first then are wide spreading; branchlets are somewhat flexuous, wiry and pliant, initially puberulent and very lenticellate, later glabrate.
The tree bears 4-9 cm long prominently net-veined leaves with toothed margins. They are dark green to yellow green, paler beneath, ovate to broadly ovate, ovate-elliptic, obtuse to subacute, margins crenate (very rarely lobed), petioles stout up to 10 mm long.
Small flowers are arranged into spikes up to 3 cm long and appear September to November.
Ewekuri, female flowers – Tepals (outer part of the flower including the petals) enclose the swollen ovary with two stigmas. The stem bearing the flowers also has numerous circular scales.
Ewekuri, male flowers are 1-2 mm across with four petals that clasp the bases of the stamen filaments. The four stamens are short and inwardly bent over in the unopened flower and which then straighten and spread outward as the flower opens.
Fruits are up to 6.5 mm diameter, drupaceous, broad-ovoid and fleshy. During fruit development the ovary expands and extends above the tepals. The mature fleshy fruit (drupe) turns a bright red-orange and are attractive to birds.
Upper surface of the leaf
Underside of leaf
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