Coriaria arborea
Coriaria arborea, commonly known as kōwhaiwhai, is a distinctive shrub endemic to New Zealand. While valued for its striking, bird-pollinated flowers and ecological role, it contains significant levels of cucurbitacin. This toxic compound requires careful handling, as the plant's berries can cause severe gastrointestinal distress if ingested.
- Scientific name: Coriaria arborea
- Family: Coriariaceae
- Native range: Australasia
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Cucurbitales, it is classified under the family Coriariaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is completed within the genus Coriaria.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Cucurbitales | WCVP |
| Family | Coriariaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Coriaria | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Coriaria arborea, is referred to by different common names depending on the region and language. In Czech, it is known as kožařka stromovitá, whereas in the Catalan language, it is called Tutu.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| cs | kožařka stromovitá | Wikidata |
| ca | Tutu | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is native to the various regions of New Zealand. It can be found growing across the North Island and the South Island. Its range extends further out to the Kermadec Islands. Additionally, the species is distributed within the Chatham Islands. This specific geographical spread highlights its presence throughout much of the New Zealand archipelago.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Chatham Is. | WCVP |
| New Zealand | Kermadec Is. | WCVP |
| New Zealand | New Zealand North | WCVP |
| New Zealand | New Zealand South | WCVP |
Activities
Coriaria arborea has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Toxic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Toxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |