Fuchsia excorticata (Forst. & Forst. f.) L. f.

국표에 없다.

Fuchsia excorticata, commonly known as tree fuchsia, New Zealand fuchsia and by its Māori name kōtukutuku, is a New Zealand native tree belonging to the family Onagraceae. It is commonly found throughout New Zealand and as far south as the Auckland Islands. It grows from sea level up to about 1,000 m (3,300 ft), particularly alongside creeks and rivers. It is easily recognised in its native environment by the characteristic appearance of its bark, which peels spontaneously, hanging in red papery strips to show a pale bark underneath. Its scientific name, excorticata, reflects this distinctive property.

Fuchsia excorticata is the largest member of the genus Fuchsia, growing to a height of 15 m (50 ft). It is unusual among New Zealand trees in being deciduous in the southern parts of its range. The introduction of the common brushtail possum to New Zealand precipitated a serious decline in this species, particularly where large concentrations of the possum are present. F. excorticata appears to be one of the possum's preferred food sources, and they will browse individual trees to the point of defoliation after which the trees will die. The small dark purple berry is sweet and juicy. It was favoured by Māori who, unusually, gave the fruit its own name of kōnini or māti; it was also eaten by European settlers in jams and puddings.

Etymology

The Māori name kōtukutuku is derived from tukutuku meaning "to let go" referring to its flaky bark.

The fruit name kōnini comes from an Eastern Polynesian term for Caulerpa racemosa which the developing fruit looks similar to. Māti comes from Proto-Polynesian *mati originally referring to Ficus tinctoria (compare Tahitian: mati, Tongan: masi).

Description

Fuchsia excorticata is the largest species of Fuchsia in the world. This species differs in appearances from others in New Zealand. This species is deciduous, found most commonly in tree or shrub form. It typically grows to an average height of 12 metres high. It is distinguishable by a noticeably light brown/orange bark, which is extremely thin and paper like, peeling in strips. Overall trunk diameter tends to be 60 cm with stout outreaching branches.

Leaves

Main description of the leaves of this species include slim petioles, the join being approximately 1–4 cm long. The leaves tend to be up to 10 cm and ranging from 1.5–3 cm wide. Leaves tend to form an oblong shape with a rounded base. Leaves of Fuchsia excorticata have a smooth epidermis with the exception of the margin and veins. The leaf margin is serrated with small teeth. Leaf colour can vary the upper side generally being dark green and the underside being paler and more silver in colour. Leaves can sometimes be suffused with red or purple colouring. Fuchsia excorticata is uncommon for its characteristic of being deciduous in southern areas of New Zealand, where the majority of its competing species are large evergreen species. Therefore, in the winter months Fuchsia excorticata is conspicuous by being found with few to no leaves.

Flowers

Flowers are green when young, and turn bright red to pink to purple in colour and often emerge from the main stem. Flowers are solitary and pendulous. The four showy sepals tend to be 5–16 mm long. Filaments tending to range from 7–12 mm in length and purplish in colour. The flowers of Fuchsia excorticata are gynodioecious. Green, young flowers are more conspicuous to pollinators against the orangeish bark and have more nectar, which is an honest signal to pollinators. Older red-phased flowers had far less nectar and were less visible to bird pollinators.

 

Distribution

Natural global range

Fuchsia excorticata is endemic to New Zealand.

New Zealand range

Fuchsia excorticata has a range throughout the North and South Islands, as well as Stewart Island and the Auckland Islands.

Habitat preferences

Fuchsia excorticata is common in lowland and lower mountainous forest areas, especially on the forest margins, in clearings, and by streams. Even if a forest is close to being destroyed, or is destroyed, tree fuchsias are more often than not still standing because they are close to indestructible. This species is also abundant in cold mountain areas in the South Island.