Prumnopitys ferruginea
Miro
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Prumnopitys genus in the family Podocarpaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Podocarpaceae
- Genus
- Prumnopitys
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- slow
- Height
- 25 m
- Fertility
- Wind
- Flower type
- dioecious
- Pollinators
- Wind
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw or cooked[3]. A resinous flavour[4][5]. The fruit is about 20mm in diameter and contains one seed[6].
- Plant part
- Fruit
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The plant is very tolerant of trimming and can be grown as a hedge[6]. Wood - hard, tough. Used for furniture, construction etc[8].
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- New Zealand.
- Habitat
- Lowland forests, North, South and Stewart Islands[7].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 9+
- 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 - it can be sown at any time of the year in a sandy soil in a greenhouse[1]. It can take 18 months to germinate[6]. 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. Easy[1]. Cuttings of ripe wood with a heel in late summer.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Thrives in any good soil, including chalk[2][9]. Requires a sheltered position[2]. This species is not very cold hardy in Britain, though it succeeds outdoors in the mildest areas of the country[1][9]. This is an important commercial timber tree in New Zealand[1]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed and fruit are required.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
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
Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X