Corynocarpus laevigatus J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Corynocarpaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 9 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

English: karaka, karakara nut, New Zealand laurel

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Trees 3-15 m tall; branches stout.  Leaves dark green, glossy, thick, coriaceous, elliptic to oblong-obovate, (5-) 10-15 (-20) cm long, (3-) 5-7 cm wide, margins slightly revolute, petioles 1-2 cm long.  Flowers in stout, stiff panicles usually 15-20 cm long; sepals suborbicular, ca. 3 mm long; petals greenish yellow, obovate, ca. 5 mm long, margins minutely toothed; staminodes spatulate, minutely toothed.  Drupes orange, ellipsoid to ovoid, 2.5-4 cm long"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 566).

Habitat/ecology:  "It forms a dense shade excluding other species.  It grows in mesic habitats between 700-1,500 m in Hawai‘i" (Smith, 1985; p. 189).

Propagation:  Seed (poisonous to man) distributed by frugivorous birds and pigs.

Native range:  New Zealand

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 566)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 566)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 566)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 566)
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Kermadec Islands	native	Allan, H. H. (1982) (p. 457) "Coastal and lowland forest".
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Raoul Island	native	Sykes, W. R. (1977) (p. 101)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	native	Allan, H. H. (1982) (p. 457) "Coastal and lowland forest".

Control: 

Chemical: "Sensitive to cut-surface (notching) applications of glyphosate. Triclopyr, dicamba and 2,4-D a little less effective so may require closer spacing of notches. Basal bark application of imazapyr effective.  Thinline application of Pathfinder® II in vertical streaks effective" (Motooka et al., 2003).

Additional information:
Excerpt from the book "Weeds of Hawaii‘s Pastures and Natural Areas; An Identification and Management Guide" (Motooka et al., 2003). (PDF format).
Fact sheet from "Common forest trees of Hawaii" (PDF format).

Additional online information about Corynocarpus laevigatus is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Corynocarpus laevigatus as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Corynocarpus laevigatus may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Allan, H. H. 1982. Flora of New Zealand, vol. I: Indigenous Tracheophyta - Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons. Botany Division, DSIR, Christchurch. .

Little, Elbert L./Skolmen, Roger G. 1989. Common forest trees of Hawaii (native and introduced). USDA Agriculture Handbook 679. Washington, D.C. 377 pp. + plates.

Meyer, Jean-Yves. 2000. Preliminary review of the invasive plants in the Pacific islands (SPREP Member Countries). In: Sherley, G. (tech. ed.). Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft regional strategy. South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Samoa. 190 pp.

Motooka, Philip/Castro, Luisa/Nelson, Duane/Nagai, Guy/Ching, Lincoln. 2003. Weeds of Hawaii‘s Pastures and Natural Areas; An Identification and Management Guide. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa. 184 pp.

Motooka, Philip/Ching, Lincoln/Nagai, Guy. 2002. Herbicidal Weed Control Methods for Pasture and Natural Areas of Hawaii. Cooperative Extension Service, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai‘i. CTAHR free publication WC-8.

Smith, Clifford W. 1985. Impact of Alien Plants on Hawai‘i's Native Biota. In: Stone, Charles P. and Scott, J. Michael, eds. Hawai‘i's terrestrial ecosystems: preservation and Management. Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaii, Manoa.

Sykes, W. R. 1977. Kermadec Islands flora: an annotated checklist. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 219, Wellington. 216 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).