MAORI NATURE NOTES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 148, 12 June 1930, Page 7

MAORI NATURE NOTES

FOR TRIBUNE READERS (Copyright—J.H.B.) Readers of the “Tribune" who are interested in the flora and bird life of New Zealand, by cutting out these Maori Nature Notes each day as they appear and tiling them in a suitable scrap book, may conipile a book of reference which will he to them a source of pleasure and instruction in tho years to come.

POROPORO (a farewell supplication: dark), a handsome shrub about twelve feet, double pointed dark green leaves from two to nine inches. Flower liko that of its cousin the potato but larger and of deep purple ranging from violet to white. Fruit shining light green, orange when ripe. Flowers and fruit in all stages appear together for several months in striking contrast with the very dark shade of the handsome leaves. The fruit is edible and widely distributed by birds. It is nearly related to the tomato and the capo gooseberry, and to tho deadly nightshade from which atropine ami belhidoilmi are obtained. A caterpillar attacks the fruit and imparts to it the same repulsive flavour as that of the leaf which is poisonous. The Maori made a healing ointment from the leaves, and the plant had sacred significance to him. A new variety with strikingly handsome flower and broader leaves has recently come to light. It blooms freely in a few months from planting. “Poropolq nki ki to Atua” were the final words to a British officer about to be killed with a Maori tomahawk at Ngutu o te Manu.