Botanical Name: Dysoxylum spectabile
Family: Meliaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Sapindales
Genus: Dysoxylum
Species: D. spectabile
Synonyms:
*Alliaria spectabilis Kuntze
*Hartighsea spectabilis A.Juss.
*Trichilia cauliflora Sol. ex A.Cunn.
*Trichilia spectabilis G.Forst.
Common Names: Kohekohe
Habitat: Dysoxylum spectabile is native to tropical forests of their range, such as New Guinea, the lowland New Caledonia rain forests and the tropical forests of northern Australia. It grows on the lowland forest in coastal regions of North and South Islands.
Description:
Dysoxylum spectabile is a handsome tree, growing 5-10m, often with the smooth greyish brown trunk forming small buttresses at the base. The leaves are made up of large oval glossy green leaflets that are prominently veined and have paler undersides.
They are arranged pinnately, with 3-4 pairs and a terminal leaflet. Small waxy white flowers arise in loose panicles directly from the branches and trunk in early winter. The fruit take 15 months to ripen, when they split to reveal the scarlet capsules that contain the seed.
Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees, so a female tree is required to obtain fruit. Provide shade, shelter and a good moist soil for best results. Frost tender. Propagation by seed.
Cultivation:
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Growth and survival of Dysoxylum spectabile seedlings planted in forest gaps and in non-gap micro-environments were monitored in Kauaeranga valley, near Thames, New Zealand. Seedlings in gaps and on gap edges grew faster than seedlings in darker forest environments.
Propagatiion: Through seeds:
Medicinal Uses:
The fruits and wood are used in traditional medicine. A decoction of the wood is useful in the treatment of arthritis, anorexia, cardiac debility, expelling intestinal worms, inflammation, leprosy & rheumatism
Its wide therapeutic use, after making a decoction of the bark is for curing arthritis, anorexia, cardiac debility, to remove intestinal worms, inflammation, leprosy and rheumatism. Its oil is used for curing ear ache and eye diseases.
Other Uses:
Wood is light, soft, fairly durable. It is used for cabinet work.Thr tree works as a very good sed tree. Kohekohe is a favourite food of possums, which eat both the leaves and fruit, sometimes stripping the trees bare. Rats also eat most of the seeds produced. Kohekohe flower in the winter and the fruit contains usually 3, sometimes 4 pairs of seeds
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohekohe
https://www.kauripark.com/plant-library/p/dysoxylum-spectabile.
