Aristotelia serrata, makomako or wineberry is endemic to the North, South and Stewart Islands where it is commonly found from sealevel to 1060m asl in lowland to mountain forest. It is particulary abundant in second-growth bush, where slips have occured. A very handsome fast growing tree up to 10m that is at it's best in the spring, when the leaves are just commencing to break and the bare branches are covered with large clusters of small rose-pink flowers during October, followed by small dark red- black berries which attracts birds. As male and female flowers are generally on different trees, both sexes must be grown to obtain berries. It makes a great specimen tree, but because it is very common in the bush most people tend to overlook it for that pupose. It prefers a good moist soil and an open situation, but in colder areas it is deciduous and better in a more sheltered site where it is ideal in semi-shade. Ideal plant for erosion control. Few native trees have a wider distribution and it is usually one of the first to reapppear when the forest is cleared, or after a fire and the light is let in. Like numerous other plants it was collected by Joseph Banks & Daniel Solander. The only economic use was the wood had been used to produce charcoal for the manufacture of gunpowder in earlier years. The berries were eaten by Maori children and early European settlers have been said to have used the berries to make jelly or jam. Some may have possibly made wine from them aswell. It also had a number of medicinal uses.