Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Griselinia littoralis

Other Names

New Zealand Privet, Kapuka, Papauma, Broadleaf,

Griselinia

Family

Griseliniaceae

Flowering season

May

English distribution

It is found mainly in the Northwest and Southwest, around

Greater London and along the South coast. It is thinly

scattered elsewhere.

For a map see the BSBI distribution map for –

New Zealand Broadleaf

Habitat

It is a neophyte from New Zealand which is grown in the

UK as hedging especially in coastal areas.

It has become naturalised in the wild in some places.

Description

New Zealand Broadleaf is an evergreen shrub growing

up to 3m.

Male and female flowers are found on separate plants.

Flowers are on short, slender spikes and are green and

small, up to 3mm.

Male flowers ahve 5 sepals and 5 stamens.

Female flowers have 5 petals, 3 styles with capitate

stigmas and a fleshy ovary below the petals.

I have not seen female trees.

This link has pictures of female flowers.

Fruits are dark purple drupes up to 7mm.

Leaves are a shiny dark green, ovate to elliptic and

up to 10cm.

Twigs are smooth and green, turning brown with age.

Trunks are broad and grey.