Flora of New Zealand Series

tree privet

Glabrous, small or medium-sized, evergreen tree to c. 10 m high (taller in cultivation), sometimes a dense shrub. Shoots glabrous. Petioles mostly 1-2 cm long). Lamina 5-13 × 3-6 cm, ovate to elliptic-ovate, glossy above; base broad-cuneate to rounded; apex usually abruptly short-acuminate, sometimes acute. Panicles up to 25 × 20 cm, dense, broadly pyramidal; branches angular; pedicels very short. Bracts oblong or oblong-lanceolate; bracteoles much smaller, caducous. Fls fragrant. Calyx 1-2 mm long; lobes indistinct. Corolla white; tube c. 1.5 mm long; lobes 2-2.5 mm long, oblong-elliptic, reflexed, with ± involute margins, acute. Stamens c. 4 mm long, exserted; anthers yellow. Style included. Fr. to 6 × 5 mm, ellipsoid-oblong, bluish or purplish black, ± pruinose. Seed c. 5 mm long, ± broadly ellipsoid, ribbed on back.

N.: N. Auckland, Auckland, coastal Bay of Plenty.

China 1958

Naturalised extensively in waste places, margins of remnant forest stands, coastal cliffs, and gardens.

FL Nov-Mar.

Poisonous (Connor 1977).

Fls of tree privet are illustrated in Fig. 92. This is the largest sp. in N.Z. and is commonly used to form a tall hedge in warmer parts of the country; unclipped trees become widespreading and reach c. 14 m high. Tree privet or Chinese white-wax tree was the centre of an industry in ninteenth century China. Wax, deposited on the branches by a scale insect, was collected and used for coating candles, for furniture polish, sizing paper and other purposes.