Akeake (Dodonaea viscosa)
Last Modified: 28-2-2021 12:08
© Christopher Cookson License this image
Akeake (Dodonaea viscosa) is a shrub or small tree, with particularly hard wood, prized by Māori for making taiaha and other weapons and tools. Akeake is native to New Zealand, however is also found throughout the world. Akeake can be found from coastal areas to lowland forest, and is tolerant to drought. Leaves are thin, oval with rounded ends, with a width up to about 10mm and length to over 75mm. Leaf colour can vary considerably from green to pink, to a dark purplish-red colour. Bark on more mature trees tends to flake off in long strips. Wood is hard and dense, although is subject to attack by boring insects. Seeds are readily distributed by the wind.
Akeake is also a popular garden plant and is widely available from nurseries, with the purplish-red leaved variety the most popular.
In Marlborough, akeake can be found throughout the region, and is on the Marlborough District Council's list of species suitable for native revegetation projects for the inner and outer Marlborough Sounds, and coastal areas.
This example was observed growing on rocks at Pukatea/Whites Bay
Image Date: 27/2/2021
Photographer: Christopher Cookson
Location: Latitude: -41.388317 Longitude: 174.056137