Habitat: bank, cliff, coast, dry, forest, forest edge, grassland, gully, hill, lake margin, margin, moist, open, pasture, roadside, rock outcrop, sand, sheltered, shrubland, slope, stone, terrace, wasteland

Dispersal: Seed

Distribution from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium. CC-BY 3.0 AU
Distribution from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium. CC-BY 3.0 AU
 Recognition
  • a shrub or small tree up to 6 m high, deciduous, and stems with thick white pith.
  • its leaves once pinnate with 5-7 leaflets, green, although purple when very young.
  • its inflorescence a flat corymb, usually 10-20 cm across, with numerous flowers.
  • the flowers small, lobes 2.5-3 mm long, white and foetid.
  • its fruit rounded, usually shiny black, and 4-8.5 mm wide.
 Images
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Peter Heenan © Landcare Research
Image: Peter Heenan © Landcare Research
Weeds Key – interactive key to the weed species of New Zealand
 References
Biosecurity New Zealand 2012: Regional Pest Management Strategies Database. http://www.biosecurityperformance.maf.govt.nz/
Connor, H.E. 1977: The Poisonous Plants in New Zealand. Edition 2. Government Printer, Wellington.
Connor, H.E.; Fountain, J. 2009: Plants that Poison: A New Zealand Guide. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Howell, C. 2008: Consolidated list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. DOC Research & Development Series 292: 42.