Ascarina lucida

Ascarina lucida, commonly known as hutu, is a species of shrub or small tree in the family Chloranthaceae. It is endemic to New Zealand; its range mostly covers the western coast of the South Island. It is also found in the North Island, but is uncommon there. It inhabits lowland and montane forests, and grows in various soil types. It reaches a height of up to 8 metres (30 feet) and the glossy leaves have tipped teeth on their margins. A. lucida was first described by the British botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1856. It is the only member of the family Chloranthaceae that is native to New Zealand. A 2011 study revealed, based on plastid DNA analysis, that A. lucida's closest relative is A. polystachya of the Society Islands. A. lucida is wind-pollinated, with no evidence of insect pollination. A. lucida's fruits are dispersed by fruit-eating animals (frugivores), such as birds, and are eaten in abundance by the small native bird, the silvereye. A. lucida's maximum estimated lifespan......read more on Wikipedia.