Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Araliaceae
Subfamily: Aralioideae
Genus: Stilbocarpa
Species: S. lyallii
Binominal name: Stilbocarpa lyallii
Synonyms: Kirkophytum lyallii, Aralia lyallii
Common name: Punui
Stilbocarpa lyallii is a large-leaved, perennial, flowering, endemic, native, megaherb found only on the Titi Islands (Breaksea Islands) which are a southern chain of islands chain that lies to the south-west of Stewart Island, New Zealand. It has now been introduced Te Puka-Hereka (Coal Island) situated in Preservation Inlet (part of Fiordland) and to Ulva Island in the Paterson Inlet, Stewart Island.
Stilbocarpa lyallii grows to about 0.2 m high on hollow stems that are >1.5 cm in diameter.
The plants have large, vivid green, kidney-shaped leaves are >30 cm. or wider. They have serrate margins with the teeth ending in a sharp point. Both surfaces of the leaves have prominent veins.
The brown/reddish, 5 petaled flowers are arranged in compound umbels. They are hermaphrodite (having both male and female organs). The globular, black shiny seeds are 3* 5 mm in diameter.
During historical times temporary flutes were made from the hollow stems by Māori while taking a break from the muttonbirding. The Māori mutton birders when returning to the mainland used to bring back bundles of it to eat as a cabbage. The large leaves were also used to wrap food before placing it in an umu (oven in the ground).
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
