Hangehange

Geniostomea rupestre, Hangehange, New Zealand privet

Not endemic to New Zealand and looks a bit like Garden Privet

Hangehange of the Tangihua forest are found.

Around the lodge, the nature trail and the confidence course. It is common in regenerating forest from Northland to Marlborough

Hangehange description

Hangehange is a bushy shrub growing up to 4m. It with slender brittle branches and is found mainly in lowland and coastal forests. It tends to grow in shade.

Hangehange leaves and bark

The leaves are are 4-8 cm long bright green, opposite, shiny. The leaves are oval and have pointed ends and soft to touch.The undersides of the leaves are paler with prominent raised veins.

The bark is rough and older trees are usually covered in moss and lichens

Hangihangi Flowers and fruit

Hangihangi flowers in spring and has tiny, greenish-white, slightly hairy flowers. The flowers are bisexual and have a faint lemon perfume.

The flowers are borne in groups (cymes) up to 3 cm in diameter and located at the base of leaves and along the branches and trunk of the bush (cauliflorous). Each flower has five, 3 mm long sepals that alternate with five petals that are joined into a 6 mm long green-to-white tube with spreading, hairy lobes. Five short stamens are around a single ovary.

Hangehange seed capsule coming off the branch

The fruit develops late summer and is capsule 5-10mm long, 4-6 mm in diameter going from green to black when ripe. When dried out capsule splits into 2 valves.

When the seed capsule opens it reveals seeds that are held within an enlarged pulpy placenta exposing only their dark tips.

Uses

Maori used to flavor other vegetable food, as a black dye and the sap was applied for skin diseases.

Place on the forest

The flowers provide nectar for bees, tui, bell birds and stitch birds. The seeds are eaten by Kereu, whiteheads and maybe kokako.