Fuchsia excorticata, commonly known as tree fuchsia, New Zealand fuchsia and by its Māori name Maori: kōtukutuku, is a New Zealand native tree belonging to the family Onagraceae. It is commonly found throughout New Zealand and as far south as the Auckland Islands. It grows from sea level up to about 1000m (3,000feet), particularly alongside creeks and rivers. It is easily recognised in its native environment by the characteristic appearance of its bark, which peels spontaneously, hanging in red papery strips to show a pale bark underneath. Its scientific name, excorticata, reflects this distinctive property.
Fuchsia excorticata is the largest member of the genus Fuchsia, growing to a height of 15m (49feet). It is unusual among New Zealand trees in being deciduous in the southern parts of its range. The introduction of the common brushtail possum to New Zealand precipitated a serious decline in this species, particularly where large concentrations of the possum are present. F. excorticata appears to be one of the possum's preferred food sources, and they will browse individual trees to the point of defoliation after which the trees will die. The small dark purple berry is sweet and juicy. It was favoured by Māori who, unusually, gave the fruit its own name of Maori: kōnini or Maori: māti; it was also eaten by European settlers in jams and puddings.
The Māori name Maori: kōtukutuku is derived from Maori: tukutuku meaning "to let go" referring to its flaky bark.
The fruit name Maori: kōnini comes from an Eastern Polynesian term for Caulerpa racemosa which the developing fruit looks similar to.[1] Māti comes from Proto-Polynesian *Maori: mati originally referring to Ficus tinctoria (compare,).[2]
Fuchsia excorticata is the largest species of Fuchsia in the world. This species differs in appearances from others in New Zealand. This species is deciduous, found most commonly in tree or shrub form. It typically grows to an average height of 12 metres high. It is distinguishable by a noticeably light brown/orange bark, which is extremely thin and paper like, peeling in strips.[3] Overall trunk diameter tends to be 60 cm with stout outreaching branches.
Main description of the leaves of this species include slim petioles, the join being approximately 1–4 cm long. The leaves tend to be up to 10 cm and ranging from 1.5–3 cm wide.[4] Leaves tend to form an oblong shape with a rounded base. Leaves of Fuchsia excorticata have a smooth epidermis with the exception of the margin and veins. The leaf margin is serrated with small teeth. Leaf colour can vary the upper side generally being dark green and the underside being paler and more silver in colour. Leaves can sometimes be suffused with red or purple colouring. Fuchsia excorticata is uncommon for its characteristic of being deciduous in southern areas of New Zealand, where the majority of its competing species are large evergreen species. Therefore, in the winter months Fuchsia excorticata is conspicuous by being found with few to no leaves.
Flowers are green when young, and turn bright red to pink to purple in colour and often emerge from the main stem. Flowers are solitary and pendulous. The four showy sepals tend to be 5–16 mm long. Filaments tending to range from 7–12 mm in length and purplish in colour. The flowers of Fuchsia excorticata are gynodioecious.[3] Green, young flowers are more conspicuous to pollinators against the orangeish bark and have more nectar, which is an honest signal to pollinators. Older red-phased flowers had far less nectar and were less visible to bird pollinators.[5]
Berries range to approximately 10 mm long, ellipsoid-oblong shaped, dark purple to almost black in colour.[3]
Fuchsia excorticata is endemic to New Zealand.[6]
Fuchsia excorticata has a range throughout the North and South Islands, as well as Stewart Island and the Auckland Islands.[7]
Fuchsia excorticata is common in lowland and lower mountainous forest areas, especially on the forest margins, in clearings, and by streams.[8] Even if a forest is close to being destroyed, or is destroyed, tree fuchsias are more often than not still standing because they are close to indestructible.[9] This species is also abundant in cold mountain areas in the South Island.[9]
The seeds of Fuchsia excorticata are fairly small, though are known to have persistence in the soil. It is unknown how long they are viable for, but can germinate in just two weeks if the conditions are suitable. In dark conditions, germination could take up to eight weeks. Because the seeds are so small, seedlings are fragile and may have a hard time establishing themselves. F. excorticata is a gynodioecious species, meaning it has separate hermaphrodite (male and female) and female parts.[10] The female plants have a much harder time becoming pollinated, due to the limited number of birds (especially tūī and bellbirds), which are the main pollinators of F. excorticata. This species flowers from August to December and produces berries from December to March.[9]
Tree fuchsia can grow in riparian soil and can be utilised as a predecessor species for areas where conditions and soils are not the best. It likes moist soil with a canopy overhead for shade.[11]
Local birds such as tūī, bellbirds, kererū, and silvereyes feed on tree fuchsia. Tūī and kererū eat the flowers and fruit; other birds consume the nectar. Tree fuchsia can, and has in some locations, been pushed out of its habitat by plant competitors such as banana passionfruit and Buddleia. Mammalian threats, such as goats, have been known to forage on tree fuchsia, but they do not have as large an effect as possums. Possums put the tree at risk because they eat the fruit and seeds, and do this without stopping when seed production is low.[11]
Known as kōtukutuku in Māori, Fuchsia excorticata had many uses for the Māori people and early settlers of New Zealand. These uses included as a basic foodstuff, in jams, and use by Māori women in vapor baths after childbirth.[12] Tannins in the bark were used as a natural agent in leather tanning. Fuchsia excorticata was also used to produce brightly coloured dyes.