Melicytus ramiflorus   mahoe

Life Form:
Shrub or small tree growing up to 8 metres

Flowers Seeds Dispersal:
Fruit is eaten by birds who disperse the seeds

Habitat:
Forest, forest margins and stream sides. Will grow in exposed disturbed areas. Despite Mahoe leaves being particularly palatable to cattle and possums it is possibly the most common pioneer and understory tree in the Waikato Region. The creamy flowers are tiny and grow right out of the branches, sometimes in thick profusion. The violet (and sometimes white) drupes (fruit like a plum) appear on different specimens from Christmas till about June. Because it is such a common tree, tolerant of such a wide range of conditions easy to grow and attractive to birds it should be grown in quantity for ecosystem restoration