Hedycarya arborea
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Hedycarya arborea. porokaiwhiri, pigeonwood
Hedycarya arborea flowers in late spring/early summer through to December and it can be recognised by its branched and hairy flower clusters. There are male and female flowers on different trees.
Male flowers are up to 12mm wide, yellowish green, fragrant, saucer shaped, quite hairy and filled with many stamen and anthers to produce a lot of pollen for transfer to female plants. Female flowers are a little smaller at 7mm across with 8-12 carpels (fruiting parts) with a reddish brown stigma. The fruit is a drupe (a single seed surrounded by a hard fruit wall). Up to 10 can be produced from a single flower and these are about 1.2cm long, ovoid in shape and quite crowded. The fruit is described as red but it is often seen as various shades of yellow, orange and red. Red is the final ripe colour.
Favourite food of kereru hence its name Pigeonwood. It is naturally abundant in lowland forests in North Island and in the South Island south to Banks Peninsula, throughout the West Coast and on Three Kings Island. It ranges from sea level to about 700m.
I have seen it in a few places around Christchurch. Observations in iNaturalist show 10 observations in Christchurch and many on Banks Peninsula. In 1935 Arnold Wall noted many plants in bush areas on the Port Hills. It is also known in Riccarton Bush.
It is a handsome tree with opposite, shiny dark green leaves lighter underneath with a reddish midrib. Leaves are about 5-12cm long and 2-5 cm wide. Young stems are black and young branchlets, stems and leaves are hairy. Leaf margins have small teeth.
It’s growth habit is as a small to medium sized, erect evergreen tree of nice shape and proportions growing up to about 6 metres. It is shade tolerant and prefers good soil and a reasonable amount of moisture. Heavy frosts may damage the soft growing tips.
If fruit is required a male and female tree must be present therefore group plantings should be considered. Ideal for parks, small reserves, catchment areas, conservation areas and even street trees in the right location. It should be planted a lot more.
Propagation is easiest by seed. If a particularly good form is found propagation can achieved by semi-hardwood cuttings.
Hedycarya is a small genus of tropical trees and shrubs mainly in New Caledonia and Polynesia. We have just the single species in NZ. Discovered by Sir Joseph Banks and Dr Daniel Solander at ‘Tigadu’ now called Anaura on the east coast of the North Island.
Hedycarya arborea flowers in late spring/early summer through to December and it can be recognised by its branched and hairy flower clusters. There are male and female flowers on different trees.
Male flowers are up to 12mm wide, yellowish green, fragrant, saucer shaped, quite hairy and filled with many stamen and anthers to produce a lot of pollen for transfer to female plants. Female flowers are a little smaller at 7mm across with 8-12 carpels (fruiting parts) with a reddish brown stigma. The fruit is a drupe (a single seed surrounded by a hard fruit wall). Up to 10 can be produced from a single flower and these are about 1.2cm long, ovoid in shape and quite crowded. The fruit is described as red but it is often seen as various shades of yellow, orange and red. Red is the final ripe colour.
Favourite food of kereru hence its name Pigeonwood. It is naturally abundant in lowland forests in North Island and in the South Island south to Banks Peninsula, throughout the West Coast and on Three Kings Island. It ranges from sea level to about 700m.
I have seen it in a few places around Christchurch. Observations in iNaturalist show 10 observations in Christchurch and many on Banks Peninsula. In 1935 Arnold Wall noted many plants in bush areas on the Port Hills. It is also known in Riccarton Bush.
It is a handsome tree with opposite, shiny dark green leaves lighter underneath with a reddish midrib. Leaves are about 5-12cm long and 2-5 cm wide. Young stems are black and young branchlets, stems and leaves are hairy. Leaf margins have small teeth.
It’s growth habit is as a small to medium sized, erect evergreen tree of nice shape and proportions growing up to about 6 metres. It is shade tolerant and prefers good soil and a reasonable amount of moisture. Heavy frosts may damage the soft growing tips.
If fruit is required a male and female tree must be present therefore group plantings should be considered. Ideal for parks, small reserves, catchment areas, conservation areas and even street trees in the right location. It should be planted a lot more.
Propagation is easiest by seed. If a particularly good form is found propagation can achieved by semi-hardwood cuttings.
Hedycarya is a small genus of tropical trees and shrubs mainly in New Caledonia and Polynesia. We have just the single species in NZ. Discovered by Sir Joseph Banks and Dr Daniel Solander at ‘Tigadu’ now called Anaura on the east coast of the North Island.