Prumnopitys taxifolia
Matai
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[6][3][4]. A sweet flavour[5]. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter and contains one seed[7]. The watery sap is drunk or used in the preparation of a beer-like beverage[5]. It is best from trees that are neither too young nor too old[4]. Other reports say that the young shoots are made into a beverage resembling spruce beer[5].
- Product or use
- Drink
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Plant part
- Sap
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[7]. Wood. Used for furniture, construction, bridges etc[9].
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- New Zealand.
- Habitat
- Lowland forests, North, South and Stewart Islands[8].
- 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[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. 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][10]. 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[2][10]. 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
Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
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