The 'Pigeonwood' is an erect small tree which grows to around 5x3m after 10 years. It has thick leathery, oval shaped leaves that have saw toothed margins. The sexes of Pigeonwood are on different trees. The flowers have a strong aromatic scent. The fruit is held in clusters of juicy fruits (drupes) which are bright reddish orange when ripe.
Abundant in lowland to mountain forests. Also found on the Three Kings Islands. Flowering throughout spring and early summer with the berries from mid spring through summer.
Genus Hedycarya contains about 20 species. The single endemic New Zealand species grows naturally as far south as Banks Peninsula. The rest of the species occur in New Caledonia and Polynesia.
Hedycarya belongs in an ancient family of plants, Monomiaceae, which means abiding, everlasting. They are composed of tropical to subtropical trees and shrubs, mostly fragrant and in the Southern Hemisphere.
The plant received its common name back when it was assumed that the New Zealand wood pigeon particularly favoured them, based on observations of the birds eating the fruit. It has since been discovered that the New Zealand wood pigeon does not prefer these berries, and tends to eat them as a 'famine food' when better fare is not available.