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Glite Dictionary
🌳 A South American tree 🌴 A New Zealand tree
puka

puka

9.9
A small New Zealand tree with large glossy leaves and clusters of pale green and white flowers
  • noun
  • New Zealand
translation icon : puka
  • The glossy leaves of the puka make it a popular choice for subtropical gardens.

Examples

  • We saw a rare puka in flower during our hike in northern New Zealand.

  • The puka thrives in sheltered coastal areas due to its sensitivity to frost.

  • The puka tree is known for its glossy leaves.

  • Many pukas grow in the forests of New Zealand.

  • The glossy leaves of the puka make it a popular choice for subtropical gardens.

  • We saw a rare puka in flower during our hike in northern New Zealand.

  • Many puka trees grow in the forests of New Zealand.

Synonyms

Meryta sinclairii
vspuka
  • New Zealand
9.9

A small New Zealand tree with a round top and very shiny leaves

is the same species but named differently in other contexts
Meryta
vspuka
  • Specialized
9.9

A small to medium evergreen tree from ocean islands often called puka

is one specific species rather than the whole genus

Surface Forms

puka singular
pukas plural

Etymology

Puka for the New Zealand tree comes from Māori, where puka is the traditional name for Meryta sinclairii. That's why the same word is used today for the tree known for its large, glossy leaves.