Monkey apple
| Botanical Name | Acmena smithii |
|---|---|
| Family | Myrtaceae |
| Origin | E. Australia |
Identification
Tree 6-15 m high. Shining, oval leaves, to around 120 mm, very aromatic when crushed. Flowers whitish Oct-Jan. Fruit a large conspicuous berry pink-mauve or white in bunches.Habitats
Forest, damp shrublands. Capable of invading lowland forests including secondary forests dominated by kanuka, manuka or podocarps. Locally common. Very common hedging plant in gardens.Impact to Biota and Ecosystems
Monkey apple is a long-lived canopy tree of a comparable size to taraire, able to establish in existing forest under low light conditions and hold a permanent place in the canopy. In canopy gaps this tree has a faster growth rate than many native trees e.g. puriri and taraire. Degrades the integrity of the forest. Under pigeon roosts seedlings can become a dominant component of the understorey.Dispersal Routes, Vectors, Infestation Sources
Dispersed by birds.Management
|
Management |
|
| Physical Control |
Pull or dig out seedlings. Fell larger trees and treat the stump with herbicide. |
| Disposal |
Leave to rot, mulch or compost. |
| Chemical Control |
Spray foliage with Metsulfuron mixed at 5 grams in 10 litres of water with 20 ml Penetrant. Or treat by drilling downward sloping holes no more than 50 mm apart around the trunk and fill them with herbicide. |
|
Biological Control |
NA |
| Recommended Approach | Pull seedlings, fell or trunk treat larger trees. |
Further Comment
This plant is prohibited from propagation, sale and distribution within New Zealand!