Fuchsia ( Fuchsia excorticata)
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Fuchsia
Species: F. excorticata "with peeling bark".
Binomial name Fuchsia excorticata
Common name: Tree fuchsia, Kotukutuku, New Zealand Fuchsia
Fuchsia excorticata, the New Zealand Fuchsia also known as Kotukutuku, is a New Zealand native tree belonging to the family Onagraceae forming a tree to 13 metres with a trunk to 0.6 metres in diameter. It is found commonly throughout New Zealand and as far south as the Auckland Islands. It grows from sea level up to about 1,000 m, particularly alongside creeks and rivers. Kotukutuku are easily recognised in their native environment by the characteristic appearance of their bark, which peels spontaneously, hanging in red papery strips to show a pale bark underneath. Kotukutuku it is the largest member of the genus Fuchsia, growing to a height of 15 m. The introduction of Common Brushtail Possum to New Zealand has precipitated a serious decline in this species where large concentrations of the possum are present. Kotukutuku appears to be one of the possum's preferred food sources and they will browse individual trees to the point of defoliation and the trees will die.
The berry (konini) is sweet and juicy and it was also used by European settlers to make jam and puddings. Tui and wood pigeon feed on the berries which have lots of very tiny seeds. Fruit is edible and tastes like a very mild grape. Maori called the fruit konini and the name is sometimes given to the tree.
Flowers of the tree fuschia
Trunk of a Tree fuschia
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