Browsing by possums threatens seedlings. Red matipo is one of New Zealand's most common native small trees. Tree with red edges. Grows in coastal and lowland forests. Understorey tree in shade of giants. Small. Reaching eight metres at most. Rounded crown. Dark, furrowed bark. But leaves are story. Tree hides best feature. Leaves are wavy, red-edged, distinctive. New growth is bright red. Giving tree its common name. Older leaves dark green. But edges stay red. Flash of colour in green understorey. Leaves thick and leathery. Arranged alternately along branches. Flowers small and inconspicuous. Followed by tiny black berries. Berries eaten by birds. Which spread seeds across forest. Tree slow-growing and long-lived. Patient presence in understorey. Wood is hard and dense. Māori used it for making fire by friction. Lower stick of fire-making set. Small, strong branches used for bird spears. For making fishing hooks. Leaves sometimes used in medicines. To see red matipo is to see tree of understorey. Forest understorey is dark. Red matipo waits in shade of rimu and tōtara. Red-edged leaves catching light. Does not compete with giants. Waits. Does not know it made fire. Does not know it made fishing hooks. It just wants to hold red edges to light. Has been here for millennia. Will be here as long as forest remains. Red edges catch light. Reminder that even small trees have beauty. Populations considered stable and widespread. Species common in coastal and lowland forests throughout New Zealand. Not threatened by habitat loss because remains abundant. No formal conservation assessment exists. Considered secure. Habitat loss from land clearance is primary threat. Browsing by introduced possums and deer. No significant pest or disease issues. Climate change affecting forest habitats and coastal areas. Found throughout New Zealand from Northland to Stewart Island. Most common in coastal and lowland forests. Also found on Chatham Islands. One of most common small trees in native forests. Coastal forests, lowland forests, forest margins, and scrub. Prefers fertile, well-drained soils with partial shade. Tolerates wind and salt spray. Often found as understorey tree in mature forest. No one told it otherwise.