Matoutou. Fuchsia?
Māori names
Māori names
Description
Riley 1994 (p. 240) says matoutou (possibly katoutou) "appears to be a regional name for a very slender shrubby climbing fuschia with green flowers (n.d. Taylor)". This may be Fuschia perscandens.[Ed]
Matou is the fruit of horopito, Pseudowintera spp.
Medicinal
For ague - centre part of one root of harakeke, 12 leaves of kohukohu, leaves of 3 ordinary sized branches of the matoutou (a small tree that grows at Patea and the inland district of the Waitara). Boil in just sufficient water to cover the leaves until the parts appear cooked. Strain when cool. Dose: one paua shell full (about two tablespoonfuls), night and morning. (O'Carroll 1884).
Leaves - decoction, with flax root and kohukohu leaves, for ague. In recipe for decoction for bruising, taken internally. Bark boiled, lotion rubbed while warm onto rheumatic pain. (O'Carroll 1884).
