| Wineberry/Makomako | |
|---|---|
| Aristotelia serrata foliage | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Oxalidales |
| Family: | Elaeocarpaceae |
| Genus: | Aristotelia |
| Species: | A. serrata |
| Binomial name | |
| Aristotelia serrata Oliv. |
|
Aristotelia serrata, wineberry, is a tree endemic to New Zealand.
The tree, called makomako in Maori, is common throughout New Zealand, in damp disturbed forest margins and damp river edges. It can be classified as a shrub or small tree and can grow to 9m (30 ft). Its leaves are broad, rose-coloured leaves and grow between 5-12 cm (2-5 in) long with a long petiole. Flowers on the tree are of a red-white colour. The tree produces red or black edible fruits berries between 6-9mm (0.2-0.4 in). Wineberry is an attractive tree, with pinkish foliage and rose coloured flowers in spring. Wineberry is a dioecious tree or shrub with male and female individuals; male and female flowers arise on separate plants, so both sexes are required for the production of red-black berries. Māori children used to feast on the berries, which were also squeezed and strained to make a sweet drink.