Overview
bushman’s toilet paper
Brachyglottis repanda
Habit: Small tree.
Claims to fame: The large, soft leaves give rise to the “bushman’s toilet paper” name, for those caught short. The leaves, with their white under-surface, have also been used in place of postcards (although this may no longer be acceptable to the postal delivery system).
Traditional uses: All parts are poisonous, so it should not be eaten (Crowe, 2004, A Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New Zealand, Penguin).
Distribution/ecology: Common lowland forest species in the North Island and northern South Island. Only found in New Zealand.
Relationships: Daisy family. New Zealand has a wealth of tree daisies. One of the mountain leatherwoods is also a Brachyglottis (B. elaeagnifolia).
Identification: The large, oblong-ish leaves, with wavy margins and white undersides is fairly distinctive. Some tree daisies are similar.
Bush City locations: Near the upper entrance.