What is a Miro Berry?

Miro berries were a favourite of kererū (New Zealand pigeons) and kākā (parrot), and snares were set on miro trees to catch the feasting birds.

What is Miro wood?

Noun. 1. Prumnopitys ferruginea – New Zealand conifer used for lumber; the dark wood is used for interior carpentry. miro, Podocarpus ferruginea, black pine.

Is Miro native to New Zealand?

Prumnopitys ferruginea, commonly called miro, is an evergreen coniferous tree which is endemic to New Zealand. Before the genus Prumnopitys was distinguished, it was treated in the related genus Podocarpus as Podocarpus ferrugineus. It grows up to 25 m high, with a trunk up to 1.3 m diameter.

Are miro berries edible?

Miro’s red fleshy berries are a favourite food of the kererü. The red berries which can be eaten raw, have a spicy flavour. The seeds were sometimes used for stuffing kererü (NZ pigeon) in preparation for cooking and eating. Both the gum and bark were used as medicine.

Where does miro grow?

It is widely distributed in lowland and high-altitude forests from north Auckland to Stewart Island. The tree prefers moist, well-drained soils, and fine specimens grow on the deep pumice soils of the central North Island.

Are miro trees endangered?

Not Threatened, although as a forest-type it has been greatly reduced through widespread logging. Very few intact examples of miro-dominated forest remain in the country.

Can you eat miro berries?

How long does Totara take to grow?

Totara can be grown to a height of 50–80 cm in 2 years in lowland nurseries, forming dense fibrous root systems similar to those of well-conditioned open-grown seedlings.

How tall do Lancewoods grow?

15 metres high
Lancewood can grow up to 15 metres high, with a trunk 50 centimetres in diameter. It has smooth bark, with rope-like ridges in the juvenile form. Plants remain in their juvenile stage for about 15–20 years.

Is pohutukawa native to NZ?

Pōhutukawa and rātā are known as New Zealand’s native Christmas tree because of the bright red blooms which decorate the trees during the Christmas season. They trigger memories of long summer days spent with friends and family in, on, around and under these magnificent trees.

Can humans eat karaka berries?

Karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatus). The attractive orange fruits are poisonous. However, the situation is not straightforward because the fleshy outer part of the fruit can be eaten raw but the kernel containing the seed has to be detoxified before it can be eaten, the latter being the part prized by M ori people.

What part of the karaka berry is poisonous?

But beware as the karaka kernel is highly toxic and should not be confused for a date. Under the orange skin of the fruit is an edible pulp. The danger lurks in the kernel or stone of the fruit which contains the toxic alkaloid karakin.

What is the scientific name of Miro?

Miro is a member of the Family Podocarpaceae and originally went by the name Podocarpus ferrugineus. The new genus Prumnopitys was established in 1978 and consists of nine species extending from Costa Rica, through Chile and across to New Caledonia, Queensland and New Zealand.

Why choose Miro for your Orchard?

As well as a delicious range of berries, Miro will provide wrap around support (kaitaikitanga) to Miro growers including technical growing expertise, turn-key orchard construction, orchard management services and supply chain logistics support. Eureka Sunrise has all the best qualities of its parent Eureka

What was the Miro tree used for?

There is a pa called Miropiko on River Road (in Hamilton) which means crooked miro tree and this was a special tree where pigeon were snared. The other main use made of the miro by Maori was medicinal. An oil expressed from the drupes was used as an insect repellent when rubbed onto the skin and was also given to help recover from fever.

Where do Miro trees grow in New Zealand?

Miro is found throughout New Zealand, being found wherever rimu grows and is most common on the West Coast. It grows up to about 1000 metres a.s.l in the North Island, to 750 metres in the South Island and only 300 metres on Stewart Island. Miro is found on most soil types but does not do well on waterlogged or droughty sites Tree size and growth