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Common Name: Ribbonwood

General Information

Hoheria sexstylosa is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 8.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

New Zealand - North and South Islands from latitude 36° 30' and southwards.

Habitat

Lowland to lower montane forests, especially marginally[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	8.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows in any good, well-drained soil[]. Requires a position in full sun[] or dappled shade[], succeeding in acid or alkaline soils[]. Plants grown in a soil that is overly rich produce a lot of sappy growth that is more susceptible to frost damage[]. Withstands strong winds but is best if given protection from cold north-easterly winds[]. Another report says that it requires a position sheltered from strong winds[]. Prefers a moist atmosphere[]. Prefers a maritime climate[]. Plants grow best in an open clearing in a woodland garden[].
A very ornamental[] and fast growing[] tree, it is only hardy in the milder areas of the country[, , ], tolerating temperatures down to about -15°c[]. Plants are prone to damage at temperatures lower than -5°c[] and are defoliated in cold winters[].
A very variable plant[], leaves of young plants are often deeply lobed but on older plants they are more or less entire and toothed[, ]. Juvenile plants also have a compact shrubby habit, quite unlike the mature plant[].
Often self-sows[].
Plants are subject to attacks by the coral-spot fungus, especially after cool wet summers[]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
A good butterfly plant[].

Edible Uses

Inner bark. A famine food, it is only used in times of scarcity[]. No more details are given but inner bark is often dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread.

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The uses listed below have been given for the closely related H. populnea. They can quite possibly also be applied to this species.

A very strong fibre is obtained from the inner bark[]. It is used for making ropes, cord etc[, ]. The inner bark can be beaten into felted bark sheets similar to tapa cloth (Broussonetia papyrifera)[]. The fibre, in this case, can be produced by beating strips of bark on a flat surface with a wooden mallet. A very fine cloth can be made in this way, the more the bark is beaten the finer the cloth becomes. Larger sizes can be made by overlapping 2 pieces of bark and beating them together[]. The fibre is also used as ornamentation in basket making and for bonnets etc[].
Wood - white, very tough. Used by cabinet makers, it also makes an excellent fuel[, ]. The pulp can be used for making paper[].

Propagation

Seed - sow autumn in a greenhouse. It usually germinates freely[]. 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, 7 - 10cm with a heel, mid summer in a shady position in a frame. The cuttings should be put in 12cm pots. A fair to good percentage[].
Layering in mid spring. Takes 12 months[].