Kapuka
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| Missing image Griselinia_littoralis.jpg Kapuka leaves and flowers | ||||||||||||||
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Kapuka (Griselinia littoralis) is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree growing up to 20 m tall, though often much less, particularly in coastal exposure. It is native to New Zealand, where it typically grows in coastal locations. It is widely cultivated both in New Zealand and in other areas with mild oceanic climates such as Britain, where it is valued for its tolerance of salt carried on sea gales.
The leaves are alternate, leathery, glossy yellow-green above, paler and matt below, 6-14 cm long, oval with a smooth margin. The flowers are borne on 2-5 cm long panicles, each panicle with 50-100 individual flowers, each flower 3-4 mm across, greenish-yellow with five sepals and stamens but no petals. The fruit is a small blackish berry.