Practical
Plants

Weinmannia racemosa

Kamahi

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Weinmannia genus in the family Cunoniaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
25 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw. A sweet and pleasant flavour[8][2][7]. The fruit is about 5mm in diameter[9].

Plant part
Fruit

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A black dye is obtained from the bark[5]. The bark contains about 13% tannin[11][12][4][5]. Wood. Used in cabinet making[5].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Tannin
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy, Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
New Zealand.
Habitat
Lowland to montane forest, North, South and Stewart islands[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in spring in a warm greenhouse. Prick the seedlings out into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Overwinter the young plants in a greenhouse for at least the first winter and plant out in their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Give some protection for its first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[13].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a light rich soil[1]. Succeeds in a fertile well-drained circum-neutral loamy soil, with shelter from cold winds[9]. Plants are not very frost-tolerant, though they are probably hardy in the mildest areas of the country[3][6]. The foliage of this tree when an adult is markedly different from the juvenile foliage, though plants begin to flower whilst still in the juvenile form[9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

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  4. ? Encyclopaedia Britannica. 15th edition.

    ↩

  5. 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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

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  7. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  8. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00

    ↩

  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  12. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  13. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

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