bleeds sap in the coastal forest margins

Size
Height: 4-10 m (adult), Spread: 3-5 m
Lifespan
Perennial
Diet
Photosynthetic shrub or small tree. Obtains nutrients from well-drained soils. Not applicable as autotroph.
Habitat
Coastal and lowland forests. Grows in open forest, forest margins, and along stream banks. Prefers well-drained soils.
Range
Endemic to New Zealand. Found in coastal and lowland forests of North Island and northern South Island from Northland to Marlborough.
Endemism
Endemic
Main Threats
No significant threats. Forest clearance may reduce habitat in some areas.
Population
Found throughout North Island and northern South Island. Not threatened. Juvenile form has distinctive, lobed leaves different from adult leaves.
Conservation Status
data_deficient
Human Risk
poisonous
Handling Note
sap contains toxic alkaloids, ingestion causes severe gastric distress
Conservation Note
Endemic tree; data insufficient for full threat classification.
Assessment
NZTCS Vascular Plants (2023)
Te Ao Māori
Tūrepo is Māori name for Streblus heterophyllus. Milky sap used medicinally. Plant known for its two leaf forms. Curiosity in forest. Juvenile leaves sometimes eaten though plant is not major food source.
It does not inhabit the uniform exclusively. Paratrophis microphylla is plant with two faces. Known as tūrepo or milk tree. Has different leaves as juvenile and as adult. Young plants have small, lobed leaves that look like oak leaves. Adult trees have smooth, unlobed leaves. Species was once thought to be two different plants. Juvenile leaves are small, lobed, dark green. With milky sap. Adult leaves are smooth, oval, dark green. Plant grows as shrub or small tree. Flowers are small, greenish, inconspicuous. Fruit is small, orange drupe. Tūrepo grows in coastal and lowland forests. In open forest. Along forest margins. Common throughout North Island. Name heterophyllus means different leaves. Referring to juvenile and adult forms. Species is endemic to New Zealand. Found only here. Milky sap was used medicinally. Juvenile leaves were sometimes eaten. Wood used for small objects. Streblus heterophyllus is not threatened. It is common. It is widespread. This milk tree is reminder. Some plants change as they grow. Juvenile is not same as adult. Both are valid. It carries on regardless.