Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Tribe: Moreae
Genus: Streblus
Species: S. smithii
Binomial name: Streblus smithii
Common names: Three Kings milk tree, Smith's Milkwood, Smiths Milk Tree,
Streblus smithii is endemic to the Three Kings Islands north of New Zealand. A small tree up to 5 m tall with a spread of up to 4m. It has leathery >16 cm long leaves with smooth margins. The bright green leaves are attached alternately along the stem. The lower surface of the leaf is slightly paler and has prominent veins.
A pair of long tapering stipules is found on either side of each leaf stalk.
The small unisexual flowers are crowded into 5-12 cm long spikes. The female flower consists of 4, green-purple hair-covered tepals surrounding an ovary with two feathery stigmas at its top. After flowering small red and fleshy fruits (drupe), 8-9 mm in diameter is formed.
The bark exudes a thick white (milk-like) sap when cut hence its common names.
Photographed at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.
[1]
A small tree photographed at Otari Wilton Bush Reserve, Wellington
[2]
The underside of the branches showing the hanging unisexual flowers on 12 cm long spikes.
[3]
Photo showing the flower spikes length compared to a mature leaf.
[5]
A closeup of the unisexual flowers.
[6]
[9]
The stem of a shrub.with distinctive lumps on the bark.
[10]
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information:
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
