Broadleaf (Kapuka)(Griselinia littoralis)
Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Griseliniaceae
Genus: Griselinia
Species: G. littoralis
Binomial name: Griselinia littoralis
Common name: Broadleaf, Kapuka, Papauma
Griselinia littoralis is native evergreen tree found throughout New Zealand in forests from sea level to 900m, forming an dense bushy tree with has deep green oval leaves. It grows up to 20 m tall, though often much less, particularly in coastal exposure. It can tolerate a wide range of conditions. The leaves are alternate, leathery, glossy yellow-green above, paler and matt below, 6-14 cm long, oval with a smooth margin.
The flowers are borne on 2-5 cm long panicles, each panicle with 50-100 individual flowers, and each flower 3-4 mm across, greenish-yellow with five sepals and stamens but no petals.
The fruit is a small blackish berry and in time of food shortages they were eaten, dispite their bitter taste..
The Kapuka (Griselinia littorali) is in the same genus Griselinia as the Puka tree (Griselinia lucida) which grows well in New Plymouth but not found the the Te Henui walkway.
Traditional Maori use:
It was an opening medicine and the inner bark was used on scrofula (a tuberculous infection of the skin on the neck).and veneral disease.(from "Medical notes of New Zealand NZ Med by T.W.Bell 1890)
The timber was known for its durability.
Flowers photographed late October
Close up of the flower
The flower buds early October
Kapuka leaf
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