Kamahi

Weinmannia racemosa

Physical Characteristics

Weinmannia racemosa is an evergreen Tree growing to 25 m (82ft 0in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

New Zealand.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy; Secondary;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Fruit - raw. A sweet and pleasant flavour[2, 105, 177]. The fruit is about 5mm in diameter[200]. [**CAUTION! The berries are not edible according to Crowe, the main authority on New Zealand edibles,see page 165 A field Guide to the Native edible plants of New Zealand 1997 edition. He says the error probably started with Sturtevant getting confused with Tawa (Beilschmiedia tawa, one of the best N.Z edibles I think, if you can adjust to fruit tasting like potato)which has a similar Maori name. He does not however say it is poisonous and it is not listed anywhere as poisonous as far as I can see. It was however very valuable to Maori for other uses above and bark was once exported for very high tannin content. David Nicholls, New Zealand]

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

None known