Habitat: clay, cliff, coast, dry, fernland, grassland, hill, lowland, open, pasture, ridge, roadside, rock outcrop, sand, scrubland, shaded, sheltered, slope, stone, terrace, track, tree, unstable/eroded

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 large herbaceous plant or small shrub growing to 3 m, but usually around 1 m tall.
  • its branched stems and reddish and hairless.
  • its alternately arranged leaves are green at first, but often turn reddish with age.
  • its inconspicuous greenish-white flowers are almost stalkless and borne in elongated clusters (10-15 cm long).
  • its purplish-black berries (4-8 mm across) contain a reddish-coloured juice.

[From: Environmental Weeds of Australia]

 Images
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Weeds Key – interactive key to the weed species of New Zealand
 References
Connor, H.E. 1977: The Poisonous Plants in New Zealand. Edition 2. Government Printer, Wellington.
Howell, C. 2008: Consolidated list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. DOC Research & Development Series 292: 42.
Stewart, J. 1971: Plants in New Zealand Poisonous to Man. New Zealand Department of Health, Wellington.