Puka

Puka (Meryta sinclairii)

A large-leaved evergreen tree endemic to NZ, which grows to about 8m tall, with the distinctly tropical appearance typical of the genus. Puka occurs naturally on the three Kings Islands and The Hen and Chicken Islands off the Northland coast, though Maori were also propagating it on the mainland. It does best in sheltered moist valleys, but  also occurs naturally on exposed cliffs with shallow stony soil, suggesting some tolerance of drought. The elliptical, thick, leathery leaves may be up to 50 cm long and 20 cm wide with a glossy upper surface. They are the largest entire leaves in the New Zealand flora. Bunches of berries (black when ripe) grow only on the female plants which tend to be only about 10% of trees.