Hedycarya arborea
| Hedycarya arborea | |
|---|---|
| Foliage of Hedycarya arborea | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Laurales |
| Family: | Monimiaceae |
| Genus: | Hedycarya |
| Species: | H. arborea
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hedycarya arborea J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
| |
| Synonyms | |
Hedycarya arborea, commonly known as pigeonwood and porokaiwhiri, is a species of shrub or small tree in the family Monimiaceae. It is endemic to New Zealand; its range covers the North and South Islands. It is also found on the Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands. The species is highly shade-tolerant, and is commonly found in wet environments. It reaches a height of up to 12 metres (40 feet), and produces bright orange to red fruits.
Hedycarya arborea was first described in 1776 by the German naturalists Georg and Johann Reinhold Forster. H. arborea is primarily wind-pollinated. The fruits are dispersed by fruit-eating animals (frugivores), such as birds. The fruits are not edible, and may be poisonous. The indigenous Māori people did not traditionally eat the fruits, although they did use the tree as a source of timber, and the leaves had some medicinal uses. H. arborea's 2023 conservation status in the New Zealand Threat Classification System was "Not Threatened".