Poataniwha

Melicope simplex

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In mature plants the leaves are 10-15 mm wide and 10-15 mm long. The leaves have a crenate margin (i.e. with shallow, rounded teeth) and the leaf blades are dotted with glands. There is a distinctive join between the leaf stem and the blade of the leaf. Plants grow up to 8 m tall but are usually less than 2 m tall. The flowers are small (approx. 5 mm in diameter) and vary from green to white. They are visited by many insects, including native bees, and also provide food for birds. The seeds are shiny and black. Poataniwha only occurs naturally in New Zealand. It occurs in both the North and South Islands.