Hungere

Botanical name: Hoheria angustifolia
Synonyms: Hoheria populnea var. angustifolia
Common name(s): Hungere, Narrow-leaved lacebark, Narrow-leaved houhere

About:
A slender, fast-growing endemic tree with a strikingly different juvenile and adult appearance. Young plants form a dense, divaricating tangle of fine interlacing branchlets carrying tiny rounded leaves, while mature trees develop much longer, narrow, sharply toothed foliage and masses of white summer flowers.

Hoheria angustifolia is especially characteristic of lowland alluvial forest and riparian environments, where it can become locally abundant or even dominant. It is one of the more distinctive New Zealand lacebarks because the juvenile divaricating stage is long-lived and juvenile-type shoots may reappear on damaged mature trees.

Natural habitat:
Primarily a lowland forest species, especially associated with alluvial forest, river terraces, floodplains, riparian margins and fertile valley-floor forest.

It is also found on forest margins, disturbed ground and other open sites where sufficient light is available.

The species is an important host for the native white mistletoe Tupeia antarctica.

Growing environment:
Frost, Sun, Wind, Dry Soil, Damp Soil & Free Draining tolerant. Adaptable to a wide range of soils once established, including relatively poor or dry sites.

Endemic distribution:
Endemic to New Zealand.

Occurs in the North and South Islands, mostly in eastern districts. In the North Island it ranges southward from the Wairoa River area, but is scarce in the northern part of its range and absent from much of Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki.

In the South Island it is widespread through eastern and central districts south to Southland, but largely absent from Westland and Fiordland.

Height:
Up to approximately 18 m tall, although many cultivated trees remain around 6–10 m.

Width:
Approximately 4–8 m depending on site and age.

Flowering:
December – February
Produces numerous white flowers, usually solitary or in clusters of 2–8 on slender stalks.

Fruiting:
February – April
Produces distinctive dry, papery, winged fruits that mature pale brown to light orange-yellow and are dispersed by wind.

Uses:
• Riparian restoration
• Lowland forest restoration
• Shelter planting
• Specimen tree
• Large native gardens
• Mixed native borders
• Pollinator planting
• Wildlife habitat
• Host planting for native mistletoe
• Erosion-control and revegetation projects
• Traditional fibre source

Appearance:
Growth habit:
A slender, soft-wooded tree with grey to grey-brown bark and a generally upright, sometimes slightly weeping crown.

The juvenile growth is strongly divaricating, with slender, flexible, interlacing branchlets forming a dense tangle.

As the tree matures, growth becomes more open and conventional, although juvenile-type shoots can persist or reappear after damage.

Leaves:
Juvenile leaves are tiny, usually only a few millimetres long, broad-obovate to almost circular and borne in small clusters on very slender petioles.

Adult leaves are dramatically different, measuring approximately 20–48 mm long and 5–10 mm wide. They are narrow-obovate, oblanceolate, oblong or lanceolate, with coarse, sharp teeth along the margins.

Leaf tips vary from blunt to pointed, and all foliage forms may occasionally occur together on the same plant.

Flowers:
Flowers are white and produced singly or in small clusters of up to eight.

Each flower is borne on a fine stalk approximately 10–12 mm long. The petals are narrow, slightly asymmetrical and often shallowly notched at their tips.

During peak flowering, mature trees can be covered in large numbers of white blossoms, giving the crown a conspicuous pale appearance.

Fruit:
The fruit separates into several semicircular mericarps.

Each mericarp has a papery wing approximately 3–6 mm long. These wings allow the ripe fruits to be carried away from the parent tree by wind.

Ecology:
Hoheria angustifolia is an important component of lowland and alluvial forest communities.

Its relatively fast growth allows it to establish rapidly in forest gaps, riparian margins and disturbed sites, where it contributes to canopy development and shelter.

The white flowers attract bees and other insects, while its branching structure provides habitat and cover for birds and invertebrates.

It is also ecologically important as a host of Tupeia antarctica, the native white mistletoe.

Where H. angustifolia occurs alongside Hoheria sexstylosa, the two species may hybridise freely. Some hybrid populations can be highly variable, with intermediate leaf dimensions and crown form.

Associated habitats:
Alluvial forest, riparian forest, river terraces, floodplains, podocarp-broadleaf forest, forest margins, lowland woodland, shrubland and disturbed ground.

It commonly grows with species such as Plagianthus regius, Pittosporum eugenioides, Kunzea robusta and Leptospermum scoparium.

How to grow:
A hardy and fast-growing native tree that is relatively easy to establish.

Plant in full sun or light shade in a well-drained to moderately moist soil. It performs especially well in fertile riparian or alluvial soils but also tolerates poorer, drier sites once established.

Young plants should be watered through prolonged dry periods until the root system is established.

Because mature trees can become large, allow sufficient space when planting. It is well suited to large gardens, shelterbelts, riparian restoration and revegetation projects.

Light formative pruning can be used when young, although naturally grown trees generally develop an attractive open crown without intervention.

Propagation:
Easy from fresh seed.

Collect mature papery fruits in late summer to autumn and sow the seed into a fine, free-draining propagation mix.

Seedlings grow relatively quickly and initially develop the characteristic divaricating juvenile form.

Cuttings may also be possible, but seed is generally the simplest and most reliable propagation method.

Cultural use:
The bark of Hoheria angustifolia was occasionally used by Māori as a source of fibre for traditional textiles and cordage, similar to other lacebark species.

The fibrous inner bark of houhere species was valued for its strength and flexibility.

Garden value:
An excellent native tree for larger gardens and restoration planting.

The dramatic change from tangled juvenile growth to narrow-leaved adult foliage provides year-round botanical interest, while the profusion of white summer flowers makes mature trees particularly attractive.

Its fast growth, hardiness and tolerance of varied soils also make it highly useful for shelter, riparian restoration and ecological planting.

For gardens designed to support native biodiversity, its value as a host for Tupeia antarctica makes it especially worthwhile.