Horopito (Pseudowintera colorata)
Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Magnoliids
Order: Canellales
Family: Winteraceae
Genus: Pseudowintera
Scientific name: Pseudowintera colorata
Common name: Horopito, Mountain horopito, Pepper Tree, Pepperwood.
Pseudowintera colorata (Horopito) is a shrub or small tree that grows to eight metres in height through much of New Zealand and is commonly called pepperwood because its leaves have a very hot bite. It is abundant in upland and mountain forests in the North Island, and extends down to sea level. The upper surface of its light green, elliptical leaves is splotched with red, especially if the plant is exposed to the light. The underside is blue-grey. Tiny greenish-white flowers appear in early spring, followed by black berries in autumn.
Horopito has peppery tasting leaves and leave a burning sensation in the mouth. The taste is caused by polygodial, a compound called sesquiterpene dialdehyde polygodiali. This compound also has some anti-fungal properties. Ground up leaves has been used as a condiment in ethnic foods. As horopito tastes bad to deer and stock so it often dominates understorey vegetation in heavily browsed forests in recent years. The fruits are very palatable to birds.
Maori uses: Small branches were used by the tohunga (keeper of knowledge) to lift tapu (something sacred or forbidden) Medical Uses: The leaves were chewed to relieve toothache and they were rubbed on the breasts of weaning mothers. The leaves were bruised and soaked in water and used for paipai, a skin disease and venereal diseases. The bark was used as a substitute for quinine. (Writings of J. H. Kerry-Nicholls 1886) The sap was used for skin diseases and gonorrhoea. A decoction of the leaves was taken for stomach ache (from "Maori Medical lore" by E. Best 1906) and was called Maori Painkiller by the bushmen in the early days.
A good web site to visit on the uses of Horopito is http://www.lovelyhealth.com/horopito.htm
Horopito (Pseudowintera colorata)
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