tītoki with berries that fed both bird and people

Size
Height: 1000–2000 cm
Lifespan
200–300 years
Diet
Produces clusters of small, greenish flowers in spring followed by spectacular, bright red, fleshy fruit (arils) surrounding a black seed. Fruit eaten by native birds including kererū, tūī, and kākā. Seeds dispersed by birds.
Habitat
Lowland forests throughout the North Island and the northern South Island. A tree of the fertile soils, river terraces, and coastal hills. Often found near streams and on the margins of lowland forests where light is bright.
Range
Found in lowland forests of the North Island and the northern South Island (north of about Greymouth and Kaikoura). Most common in fertile, well-drained soils on river terraces, hillslopes, and coastal forests.
Endemism
Endemic
Main Threats
None significant. This species is still common in lowland forests and regenerating bush throughout its range. It is also a popular specimen tree in parks and gardens. It faces no major threats, though habitat loss has reduced some populations.
Population
Not Threatened. The Tītoki is still common in lowland forests and regenerating bush throughout its range. It is also a popular specimen tree in parks and gardens, valued for its glossy foliage and its spectacular fruit. It is not rare.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
Human Risk
harmless
Handling Note
native broadleaf tree, edible fruit safe to handle
Conservation Note
Endemic tree; widespread in lowland and montane forests throughout New Zealand.
Assessment
NZTCS Vascular Plants (2023)
Te Ao Māori
Tītoki. The name is sharp and crisp. In Māori tradition, the Tītoki was a tree of many uses. The red aril of the seed was pressed to extract a rich, sweet oil. This "tītoki oil" was used for perfume, for hair oil, and for anointing the body. The black seeds were strung into necklaces and earrings. This was traditional jewellery that glistened against the skin. The wood was used for tools, for weapons, for the handles of adzes and the frames of houses. It was a tree of value. A tree of the village.
Māori pressed the aril for oil. Tītoki is the glossy one. It is the show-off. It is the tree that looks like it spends hours in front of the mirror. Its leaves are compound. They are divided into several leaflets arranged like a hand. Each leaflet is thick, leathery, and incredibly shiny. The top surface is dark green and polished. It reflects the light like a mirror. The underside is paler and duller. But no one looks at the underside. The Tītoki knows where its strengths lie. What makes it special? The fruit. The Tītoki produces clusters of small, woody capsules. They split open when they are ripe. They reveal a stunning treasure. A black, glossy seed sits in a bright red, fleshy aril. The seed looks like a black pearl nestled in a red velvet cushion. The effect is striking. A flash of red and black against the dark green leaves. The tree is dioecious. Separate male and female trees exist. The females produce the fruit. But only if a male is nearby. The fruit is not edible for humans. The red aril is bitter. The seed is hard. But the birds love it. The kererū, the tūī, and the kākā all feast on the red aril. They swallow the seed whole. The seed passes through the bird's gut. It is deposited somewhere else. The Tītoki is a tree that travels on wings. The wood of the Tītoki is dense, heavy, and beautifully figured. It was used by Māori for tools, for weapons, and for the handles of adzes. It is a wood that does not split. It does not crack. It does not warp. A Tītoki tool handle could last for generations. The bark is another clue. The Tītoki has a smooth, grey bark. It is often mottled with patches of white lichen. The trunk is straight and cylindrical. It is not buttressed like the pukatea or twisted like the mountain tōtara. It is a tree of good posture. It stands tall and straight in the lowland forest. Biologically, the Tītoki is a tree of the light. It does not like deep shade. It grows in the gaps. It grows on the edges. It grows in the places where the sun reaches the forest floor. It is often found along stream banks. It stands on the margins of clearings. It lives in the regenerating bush where the canopy is open. It is a pioneer of the bright places. A tree that needs its own space. To stand under a Tītoki in fruit is to stand under a tree of jewels. The red and black seeds hang in clusters. They glitter in the dappled light. The leaves are glossy. The trunk is straight. The bark is smooth. It is a tree that knows how to dress for the occasion. The Tītoki is not a king. It is not a warrior. It is the jeweller of the forest. The one with the glossy leaves and the precious seeds. It has been here for millennia. It will be here as long as the birds remember its treasure.