Common Name: Pukatea

General Information

Laurelia novae-zelandiae is a large but slow-growing evergreen tree that can reach a height of 30 metres or more with a trunk up to 160cm in diameter and large radiating buttresses - though it Is very unlikely to reach these dimensions in gardens[]..
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials..

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

New Zealand - North and South Islands

Habitat

Lowland semi-swamp and gully forests in North and South Islands, south to latitude 46°s[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Laurelia novae-zelandiae is a plant of warm temperate to subtropical regions. It is not very cold-hardy, tolerating short periods with temperatures down to about -5°c[].
Succeeds in sun or semi-shade in any moderately fertile soil, including a limey soil, so long as it does not dry out in the growing season[]. Another report says that it requires an acid, well-drained soil and does well in the semi-shade of a sheltered woodland[]. It grows best in deep fertile moist soil, doing particularly well in waterside plantings[]. Requires a warm position sheltered from cold winds[].
A slow-growing plant[].
The leaves and fruits are aromatic[].
Plants are generally dioecious, so both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required, though some plants can also produce hermaphrodite flowers[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A decoction of the inner bark is used in the treatment of ulcers and scalp eczema. It is taken internally and also applied locally as a treatment for syphilis[].
The bark is steeped in hot water and the pulp placed over the region of pain to relieve neuralgia[]
The bark can be chewed, or a very strong decoction held in the mouth, in order to relieve toothache[]
The bark is applied topically to treat scrofulous sores[]

To make a decoction, scrape out the inner part of the bark, put into a thin cloth and squeeze the juice out. To make pulp, scrape out the inner bark and sap. Bottle. To treat a toothache, dip some cotton wool, or pukatea pulp, in the liquid and place in the hollow tooth. The pulp may be used by itself[]
Used for tubercular trouble[]

The bark contains various alkaloids including pukateine. Pukateine has strong analgesic properties similar to morphine[].
Some reports state that pukateine does not have the after-effects of morphine, though others say that pukateine resembles more the apo-morphine than the morphine action. Pukateine can definitely alleviate pain but may have worse after effects than morphine[].

Other Uses

It has been suggested that a valuable essential oil might be extracted from the leaves and bark[].

The wood is a pale brown colour, streaked with deeper shades and often very ornamental[]. The multi-coloured wood is very light in weight[, ]. It is used in furniture making and to build boats, for it does not easily split[, ]. The heartwood is sometimes used to make canoe paddles[].
The wood is very light. In traditional use it may have been stored in wet conditions in order to increase its density and thus its usefulness. The wood increases its weight threefold when saturated[].

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter or early spring in a warm greenhouse. Germination rates are variable[]. 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, and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, mid summer in individual pots in sandy soil in a frame. Keep them moist. Fair percentage[].
Layering in spring[].