- Aristotelia serrata
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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.
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