Common Name: Miro

General Information

Prumnopitys ferruginea is an evergreen tree with a rounded crown; it can grow up to 25 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 100cm in diameter[].

Logging and forest clearing for agriculture have historically caused decline in terms of area of occupancy and numbers of mature trees in the population. These activities have now ceased and remaining populations are protected. Prumnopitys ferruginea is widespread and is regenerating from a historic low level of the population several decades ago. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

New Zealand - North, South and Stewart Islands.

Habitat

Lowland forests, at elevations up to 1,000 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

This species is not very cold hardy in Britain, though it succeeds outdoors in the mildest areas of the country[, ].
Thrives in any good soil, including chalk[, ]. Requires a sheltered position[].
Ecologically, it appears to be a late-successional forest interior species, regenerating within the forest and typically only achieving canopy dominance after several gap-release events[].
Trees can live for more than 500 years[].
This is an important commercial timber tree in New Zealand[].
Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed and fruit are required.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. A resinous flavour[, ]. The fruit is about 20mm in diameter and contains one seed[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is very tolerant of trimming and can be grown as a hedge[].

Other Uses

The wood is straight-grained, hard, tough, durable. Used for furniture, construction etc[, ].

The wood of Miro has similar properties as that of Matai (P. Taxifolia) and is used in construction for floors and weatherboards. It sometimes is beautifully figured, especially in radial cuts, which makes it desirable for furniture, e.g. Table tops and cabinet making. Salmon (1996 reprinted 2001) states that it is "exploited increasingly as a substitute for Matai", but that observation may be dated as the native timber producing conifer trees in New Zealand are now protected from logging. Perhaps this tree is used here and there under licence on a small scale, as it is certainly more common and widespread than its congener[].
The wood is sometimes beautifully figured. It is exploited increasingly as a substitute for matai in weatherboarding and flooring[].

Propagation

Seed - it can be sown at any time of the year in a sandy soil in a greenhouse[]. It can take 18 months to germinate[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame. Easy[].
Cuttings of ripe wood with a heel in late summer.