Corynocarpus laevigatus
New Zealand Laurel
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Corynocarpus genus in the family Corynocarpaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Corynocarpaceae
- Genus
- Corynocarpus
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 12 m
- Spread
- 8 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw. Sweet and pulpy[1][8][10][11][12][2][6]. One report says that it is poisonous raw[4], though the writer might have been confused with the seed[K]. Seed - cooked[10][11][12][3]. The seed needs to be soaked in salt water or thoroughly boiled or roasted in order to destroy a deleterious principle[1][8][13]. A staple food of the Maoris, it contains a tasteless farinaceous substance[8][2]. The seed contains about 11% protein and 58% carbohydrate[6].
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Plant part
- Seed
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An insecticide is made from the plant[4]. Wood. The tree trunk is used by the Maoris to make canoes[10][12].
- Product or use
- Insecticide
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Secondary canopy
Environment
- Range
- New Zealand.
- Habitat
- Coastal and lowland forest, south to latitude 44°south[9].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[7]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[7].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1]. Best grown in a woodland garden[5]. Plants are not very frost-tolerant and are only hardy outdoors in the mildest areas of Britain[1]. There is a large tree in Falmouth[11]. Plants tolerate pruning if this is necessary[7].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Haywood. V. H. Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-217674-9
Laing. and Blackwell. Plants of New Zealand. Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd 1907-00-00
Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-19-558229-2
Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00
Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber 1948-00-00
Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394