Flowering plants: North and South Islands

 

Karaka

Corynocarpus laevigatus
Karaka family: Corynocarpaceae
Trees with alternate leaves, small bisexual flowers and fleshy fruits (drupes). A small family with one genus confined to New Zealand, New Hebrides and New Caledonia. One species is restricted (endemic) to New Zealand.


Foliage - A tree up to 20 m tall that often suckers from the base to form a cluster of trees. The elliptic to oblong, 10-20 cm long leaves are thick and leathery and a glossy green. Found in coastal forest of the North Island and less commonly, the South Island.
(photo, Larry Jensen)
Karaka flowers - The flowers are in a many-branched group (panicle) up to 20 cm long.
(photo, Larry Jensen)


Karaka flower, side view - The flowers are 4-5 mm in diameter with five green sepals and five white petals.
(photo, Iain MacDonald)
Karaka flower, top view - Five sterile stamens alternate with five that are functional and to the inside there is a single ovary with an enlarged terminal stigma. (photo, Iain MacDonald)


Karaka young fruit - After pollination the ovary begins to enlarge and become fleshy while the other flower parts wither.
(photo, Larry Jensen)

Karaka mature fruit - Fleshy fruits (drupes) 3-4 cm long are formed in the autumn. As a food source
(photo, Larry Jensen)




Please give us your feedback or ask us a question

This message is...


My feedback or question is...


My email address is...

(Only if you need a reply)