Thread: Native plant identification

Flesh of the karaka berry is tasty, but DON'T EAT THE SEED its poisonous
As a kid I was told to not even eat the flesh, then a few years ago watched my father in law do it and learnt it was only the seed that will kill you.

I have a sudden urge to put a disclaimer on the comment above like "I take not responsibility for the stupidity of others . . . ."

Oh and bracken root tastes like dirt even after boiling, mashing and a good lump of butter.

awesome, keep it up guys

updated list:


Deer food:

Broadleaf / Kapuka / Griselinia littoralis
Bushmans Friend / Rangiora / Brachyglottis repanda
Five Finger / Whauwhaupaku / Pseudopanax arboreus
Seven Finger / Pate / Schefflera digitata
Whiteywood / Mahoe / Melicytus ramiflorus

Nasty

Bushmans Lawer / Onga Onga / Urtica Ferox
Cutty grass / Toetoe / Austroderia
Gorse / ??? / Ulex europaeus
??? / Tutu / Coriaria arborea

Useful / Medicinal

Dock / ??? / ??? - treatment for Onga Onga sting
Flax / Harakeke / Phormium colensoi & tenax - pulp of leaves & roots, heated, use for infections and boils
Pepper Tree / Kawa Kawa / Macropiper excelsum - toothache, upset tummy
??? / Horopito / Pseudowintera colorata - leaves & tender branches steeped, use for chafing, wounds, bruises, cuts
??? / Koromiko / ???
??? / Kowhai / ???
??? / Manuka / ??? - leaves made into tea for fever, ash for dandruff
??? / Rata / ???

Edible (human)

Black tree fern / Mamaku / Cyathea medullaris
Fern root / Aruhe / Pteridium esculentum - carbohydrate, root cooked, then beaten to remove hard outer skin
??? / Hinau / Elaeocarpus dentatus
??? / Kiekie / Freycinetia banksii
??? / Tawa / Beilschmiedia tawa

Originally Posted by Chris

Might want to add Koromiko & Manuka to the medical list .

Chris, for Koromiko, do you mean Hebe salicifolia or Hebe stricta ?

Can we beef this up with photos? Get mods to clean it up?

Dougie, my experience with photos for plant id is pretty much hit and miss. Often you need to combine characteristics of two or more parts (leaves, seeds, bark etc) to get positive id)

If you get a good leaf key that helps, but best option is to learn distinguishing characteristics and combine in into a mnemonic. Five finger = fine serration on leaves. I'll bring some good leaf keys along for the next hike.

Tussok,hebes,broom.Deer also love the soft new shoots on gorse.

Medicinal properties of k
Hebe stricta - restores normal bowl function very quickly ,most cases over night.

Manuka was used to cure VD AS WELL

The soft tips of Supple Jack is nice to eat. Peal off the outer and it taste quite a bit like beans

Cabbage tree?

Originally Posted by Toby

Cabbage tree?

Yes, the heads of them are edible apparently, but a lot of work to test the theory.
Probably needs a good boilup too.

Which reminds me - the two obvious - Puha (sow thistle) and watercress

Originally Posted by Toby

Cabbage tree?

If you get right into the center of the head of the tree ,the base or pith(the white bit) of the spear like center can be eaten raw.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Tussok,hebes,broom.Deer also love the soft new shoots on gorse.

VC, all of these for the deer food category ?

Can you be a bit more specific ? Which broom species (the invasive pioneer plant or the local species) ?

Latest updates:

Deer food:

Kapuka / Broadleaf / Griselinia littoralis
Mahoe / Whiteywood / Melicytus ramiflorus
Pate / Seven Finger / Schefflera digitata
Rangiora / Bushmans Friend / Brachyglottis repanda
Whauwhaupaku / Five Finger / Pseudopanax arboreus

Nasty

Onga Onga / Bushmans Lawyer / Urtica Ferox
Toetoe / Cutty grass / Austroderia
Tutu / ??? / Coriaria arborea
??? / Gorse / Ulex europaeus

Usefull / Medicinal

Harakeke / Flax / Phormium colensoi & tenax - pulp of leaves & roots, heated, use for infections and boils
Horopito / ??? / Pseudowintera colorata - leaves & tender branches steeped, use for chafing, wounds, bruises, cuts
Kawa Kawa / Pepper Tree / Macropiper excelsum - toothache, upset tummy
Koromiko / ??? / Hebe stricta - eating young leaves is a remedy for constipation
Kowhai / ??? / Sophora spp.
Manuka / Manuka / Leptospermum scoparium - leaves made into tea for fever, ash for dandruff
Rata / ??? / ???
??? / Dock / ??? - treatment for Onga Onga sting

Edible (human)

Aruhe / Fern root / Pteridium esculentum - carbohydrate, root cooked, then beaten to remove hard outer skin
Hinau / ??? / Elaeocarpus dentatus
Karaka / ??? / Corynocarpus laevigatus - flesh of berries, seed is poisonous
Kiekie / ??? / Freycinetia banksii
Mamaku / Black tree fern / Cyathea medullaris
Puha / Sow Thistle / ???
Ti Kouka / Cabbage tree / Cordyline australis - center of the head of the tree ,the base or pith(the white bit) of the spear like center can be eaten raw
Tawa / ??? / Beilschmiedia tawa
Kowhitiwhiti / Watercress / ???

Cabbage tree: do note that extracting the centre of the base of the tree, or the pith (I understood it to be the crown under where the flower pops out) is fatal for the tree. They don't like it you know. Must admit if I was stuck in the bush and hungry there'd be no 2nd thought - but felt I should comment lest some members decide to do a 'bush survival' menu for their Christmas dinner . . . . . .

Originally Posted by ebf

VC, all of these for the deer food category ?

Can you be a bit more specific ? Which broom species (the invasive pioneer plant or the local species) ?

Yep. The native broom that grows in alpine environments

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