'''Coriaria''' is the sole genus in the family 'Coriariaceae'. It includes about 30 species of
subshrubs,
shrubs and small
trees, with a widespread but disjunct distribution across warm temperate regions of the world, occurring as far apart as the
Mediterranean region, southern and eastern
Asia,
New Zealand (where there are some alpine species), the
Pacific Ocean islands, and
Central and
South America.
The
leaves are opposite or in whorls, simple, 2-9 cm long, without stipules. The
flowers are borne in
racemes 2-30 cm long, each flower small, greenish, with five small petals. The
fruit is a small and shiny black (occasionally yellow or red)
berry-like swollen
corolla, highly
poisonous in several species, though those of ''C. terminalis'' are edible.
The Mediterranean species ''C. myrtifolia'' is known as 'Redoul', and the several New Zealand species are known by the
MÄori name of
Tutu.
The South American species ''C. ruscifolia'' is an evergreen climber known as 'Deu' or 'Huique', and its fruits are used in Southern
Chile to make rat poison.
External links
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Pictures of ''Coriaria ruscifolia''