Alectryon excelsus

Alectryon excelsus, commonly known as tītoki, or sometimes New Zealand oak, is a shiny-leaved tree endemic to New Zealand. It is in the family Sapindaceae. It is found in coastal and lowland forests throughout most of the North Island and from Banks Peninsula to central Westland in the South Island.

Description

A small tree. It grows 6-12 m tall. The bark is almost black. The leaves are dark green. Underneath they are covered with rusty coloured hairs. The leaves are 5-10 cm long. The flowers are small. The fruit is a brown capsule. It opens to show red flesh and shiny black seeds.

Edible Uses

The fruit is eaten, though it is sweet but acidic with a rough taste. Historically, the Maori extracted oil from the seeds.

Traditional Uses

The fruit is sweet but acid and has a rough taste.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A temperate plant. In New Zealand it grows in lowland forests up to 600 m altitude. It is resistant to fort but damaged by drought. It suits hardiness zone 8-9. Hobart Botanical Gardens.

Where It Grows

Australia, New Zealand*, Tasmania,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seeds germinate easily.

Notes

There are 15-34 Electryon species. The Maori formerly extracted an oil from the seeds.

References (8)

• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 63
• Crowe, A., 1997, A Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Penguin. p 59
• Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 84
• Fruct. sem. pl. 1:216, t. 46, fig. 2. 1788
• Lamberton, K (Ed.), 2004, The Australian gardening encyclodepia. Murdoch Books, NSW Australia. p 156

More from Sapindaceae

Dodonaea angustifolia

Kitkita, Sand olive

Dodonaea triquetra

Common hop-bush

Dodonaea viscosa

Sticky hop-bush, Common sand olive

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Eriocelum racemosum

Eriocoelum racemosum

Erioglossum rubiginosum

Rusty sapindus