Griselinia is a genus of seven species of evergreen shrubs and trees in the family Griseliniaceae, the sole family in its own lineage within the order Apiales. It was described by the botanist Johann Georg Adam Forster in 1776 in Characteres Generum Plantarum. The genus has a strikingly disjunct distribution, occurring in New Zealand (two species) and South America (five species, primarily in Chile and adjacent Argentina), making it a classic example of the Antarctic flora — a biogeographic pattern shared by plants that dispersed across the ancient southern landmasses.
All species are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. The leaves are evergreen, thick and leathery, smooth and glossy on the upper surface, often paler beneath. Flowers are very small with five sepals; petals measure just 2–3 mm, and the female flowers of G. lucida lack petals entirely. The fruit is a small red or purple oval berry, 5–10 mm long. New Zealand species (G. littoralis and G. lucida) are large shrubs or trees reaching 4–20 metres, and are notably capable of an epiphytic or hemiepiphytic growth habit — beginning life high in the forest canopy before sending aerial roots to the ground. South American species are smaller shrubs, 1–5 metres tall.
Chemically, Griselinia is characterised by petroselinic acid as its dominant fatty acid, a trait linking it biochemically to the carrot family (Apiaceae) and ivy family (Araliaceae). Molecular phylogenetic work by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group confirmed its placement in Apiales, resolving earlier uncertainty when it was frequently assigned to Cornaceae. It is the sole genus in the monotypic family Griseliniaceae.
Griselinia littoralis (kapuka) is the most widely cultivated species and a popular hedging plant in coastal and maritime gardens, valued for its exceptional wind tolerance and dense evergreen foliage.
Etymology
The genus name Griselinia honours Francesco Griselini (1717–1783), an Italian naturalist and encyclopaedist. It was published by Johann Georg Adam Forster in his 1776 work Characteres Generum Plantarum. The vernacular names of the New Zealand species — kapuka (G. littoralis) and puka or akapuka (G. lucida) — are of Māori origin.
Distribution
Griselinia has a highly disjunct distribution across the Southern Hemisphere: two species (G. littoralis and G. lucida) are native to New Zealand, while five species occur in South America, concentrated in Chile and extending into adjacent Argentina and southeastern Brazil. This pattern of separation across the southern Pacific is a textbook example of the Antarctic flora, reflecting ancient vicariance or long-distance dispersal across the former Gondwanan landmass.
Taxonomy Notes
Griselinia was historically placed in Cornaceae due to superficial similarities, but it differs from that family in numerous morphological and chemical features. Petroselinic acid as the dominant seed fatty acid links it biochemically to Apiaceae and Araliaceae. Molecular evidence from the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group confirms its placement in the order Apiales, and it is now treated as the sole genus of the monotypic family Griseliniaceae. It was first formally described by G. Forst. (1776) in Characteres Generum Plantarum, p. 153.
Cultivation
Griselinia littoralis is the primary cultivated species and is widely grown as an ornamental hedge, particularly in coastal gardens. It thrives in rich, light loam in full sun to semi-shade, tolerates chalky and mildly alkaline soils, and is exceptionally tolerant of salt-laden maritime winds. Plants are hardy to approximately −10 °C (UK hardiness zone 7) and usually regenerate after frost damage. They respond well to trimming, including hard cutting back into old wood, and are notably resistant to honey fungus. Both male and female plants are needed for fruit production. The wood of G. littoralis is dense, durable, and historically valued for shipbuilding and railway sleepers. Several ornamental cultivars have been developed.
Propagation
Griselinia littoralis is propagated by seed or cuttings. Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse, or in a cold frame in spring; seedlings should be grown under glass through their first winter before planting out after the last frost. Half-ripe heel cuttings (7 cm) taken in July or August root reliably in a frame with the foliage kept moist. Mature wood heel cuttings (7–10 cm) taken in October or November also achieve a high success rate.
