twines up the lowland forest trees
- Size
- Length: 1000 cm
- Lifespan
- 20–40 years
- Diet
- Photosynthetic climber. Draws energy from sunlight. Obtains nutrients from fertile, well-drained soils.
- Habitat
- Lowland forests, forest margins and scrub. Prefers fertile, well-drained soils with partial shade. Climbs trees and shrubs using twining stems.
- Range
- Throughout New Zealand from Northland to Otago. Most common in lowland forests and forest margins. Also found on Chatham Islands. Endemic to New Zealand.
- Endemism
- Endemic
- Main Threats
- Habitat loss from land clearance is primary threat. Browsing by introduced possums and deer. Climate change affecting forest habitats.
- Population
- Populations considered stable in remaining forest fragments. Species common in lowland forests throughout New Zealand. Threatened by ongoing habitat loss.
- Conservation Status
- Not Threatened
- Human Risk
- harmless
- Handling Note
- native vine, edible fruit safe to handle
- Conservation Note
- Endemic climber; widespread in northern North Island forests.
- Assessment
- NZTCS Vascular Plants (2023)
- Te Ao Māori
- In Māori tradition karewa was valued for its fruit. Sweet pulp eaten fresh. Fruit also known as kohia in some regions. Vine recognised as native relative of tropical passionfruit. Seeds sometimes used in decorations. Plant had no major medicinal uses but appreciated for fruit. Treat of forest. Gathered when ripe and eaten as sweet snack.
It is not tropical. Passiflora tetrandra is New Zealand's only native passionfruit. Fruit is small and egg-shaped. Ripening to orange-yellow. Containing edible pulp with mild, sweet flavour. Flesh is translucent and jelly-like. With small, dark seeds. Flavour is mild and sweet. Less intense than tropical passionfruit. Not supermarket fruit. Forest fruit.
Flowers are small and greenish-white. Not showy like introduced passionfruit. Have five petals and fringe of filaments in centre. Flowers followed by fruit which takes several months to ripen. Species is vigorous climber. Covering trees and shrubs in lowland forests. Climbs using twining stems that wrap around branches and trunks. Plant that pulls itself up.
Name karewa refers to floating or drifting habit of vine. Plant is most common in warm, northern areas. Reaching southern limit in Otago. Less common in cooler, drier forests. Species is endemic to New Zealand. Found nowhere else in world. Local. Specialist.
Karewa is important food source for native birds. Which eat fruit and disperse seeds. Dense growth provides shelter for insects and lizards. Plant is not commonly cultivated but can be grown in warm, sheltered gardens.
That is karewa. New Zealand's own passionfruit. Mild. Sweet. Endemic. It carries on.