Coriaria pottsiana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Coriariaceae
Genus: Coriaria
Species:
C. pottsiana
Binomial name
Coriaria pottsiana

Coriaria pottsiana, commonly called the Hikurangi tutu or Pott's tutu, is a rare low-growing sub-alpine perennial summer-green shrub, only known to exist on a small grassy scree slope behind the tramping hut on Mount Hikurangi in the Gisborne Region of New Zealand's North Island.[1][2][3] The Mt Hikurangi tramping hut is found at 37°54′22″S 178°3′31″E / 37.90611°S 178.05861°E / -37.90611; 178.05861.[4]

Description

The delicate shrub grows to a height of 50 cm (20 in), with a 1 m (3.3 ft) spread.[2] It is rhizomatous, with slender four-sided 40 cm (16 in) stems growing from its slender rhizomes.[2][3][5] Branches and branchlets are very slender, with small crinkled oblong to broad oval-shaped dark red opposite leaves with wavy margins that sometimes end in a distinct rounded point, are 5–9×4–9 mm (0.20–0.35×0.16–0.35 in) in size, are truncate at their base, are distant, have purplish undersides, and have slender petioles hardly 0.5 mm (1⁄50 in) in length.[2][3] Its racemes are 4–14 cm (1.6–5.5 in) long, and are found at the tip of stems, or elsewhere on main branches.[3] Its white flowers, found on slender pedicels up to 7 mm (0.28 in) in length, are distant, with broadly oval sepals about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) in size (sometimes toothed), similar petals, and 5 ribbed carpels.[2][3]

Like all Coriaria species, the plant is poisonous, especially the seed inside the small black berries.[5] However, the juice of some Coriaria berries is not poisonous, and was used by Māori, who called members of the genus "tutu".[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Mount Hikurangi – Te Ara ki Hikurangi". Places to visit. Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Coriaria pottsiana". Oratia, New Zealand: Oratia Native Plant Nursery. 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Allan, H.H. (June 2004) [1982]. "8. C. pottsiana W. R. B. Oliver in Rec. Dom. Mus. Wellington 1, 1942, 24". Flora of New Zealand. Volume I. Indigenous Tracheophyta – Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons. First electronic edition. Transcribed by Wilton, A.D.; Andres, I.M.L. Lincoln, New Zealand: Landcare Research. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  4. ↑ "Mt Hikurangi > Points". New Zealand Tramper. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Coriaria pottsiana". Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  6. ↑ Moorfield, John C. "Search results: "tutu"". Te Aka Māori-English, English-Māori Dictionary and Index (Online version). New Zealand: Pearson Education; Auckland University of Technology. tutu. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2012.


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