Dianella nigra

Dianella nigra
Hanging violet berries of Dianella nigra
Hanging berries

Not Threatened (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Hemerocallidoideae
Genus: Dianella
Species:
D. nigra
Binomial name
Dianella nigra
Synonyms
  • Dianella intermedia Brown
  • Dianella reflexa Colenso

Dianella nigra, commonly known as turutu, inkberry, and the New Zealand blueberry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae. It is endemic to New Zealand. Its range mainly covers the North and South Islands. It is typically found in coastal to montane environments, and the species can colonise various different habitats. A pernnial herb, the species is known for its vibrant violet-blue berries and long green leaves.

Dianella nigra was first described in 1884 by the New Zealand botanist William Colenso. D. nigra's pollination strategy is not well-studied. Berries are recorded to be eaten by the silvereye, a small native bird. Despite this, there is a historical record from the late 1800s of an infant death linked to ingestion of the berries, as such, they may be poisonous to humans. Its 2023 conservation status in the New Zealand Threat Classification System is "Not Threatened".

Description

Dianella nigra is a species of perennial herb in the family Asphodelaceae and the subfamily Hemerocallidoideae. It is evergreen, dense, tussock-like with horizontal rhizomes up to 150 mm long or more. Leaves are 250 mm–800 mm × 12 mm–18 mm (9.84 in–31.50 in × 0.47 in–0.71 in) long. They are green to dark green in colour, curved and hanging. The laminae (leaf blades) are smooth. Leaf bases are light green to dark green in colour.[1]

The inflorescences can rise up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) above the foliage. The panicles are 300–500 mm (12–20 in) long. Flowers are 9–11 mm in diameter. Flowering typically occurs in November and December. The sepals are 4.4–4.5 × 1.6–1.7 mm. The petals are 3.5–4.0 × 2.3–3.4 mm and white to olive-green in colour. The glossy berries are 8–20 × 7–10 mm, and grey-white to violet-blue in colour. D. nigra's seeds are 1.8–2.1 × 2.3–3.0 mm long.[1]

Phytochemistry

The typically violet-blue colour of the berries of the Dianella genus is attributed to the anthocyanins and pigments in them.[2]

Taxonomy

The Dianella genus was first established in 1789 by the French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. D. nigra was first described in 1884 by the New Zealand botanist William Colenso.[3][4] In older publications, the plant might be referred to as Dianella intermedia and Dianella reflexa.[5][6] There are forty species of the Dianella genus currently accepted by the Plants of the World Online taxonomic database. This genus is widespread and is found in several countries in Africa, Asia, and Oceania.[7] The genus Dianella is closely related to Thelionema and Herpolirion.[8] D. intermedia of Norfolk Island is a sister species to the New Zealand members.[9]

Etymology

The etymology (word origin) of D. haematica's genus name, Dianella, refers to the Roman goddess of the chase Diana.[10][5] The specific epithet (second part of the scientific name), nigra, typically means 'dark'. The species is commonly known as turutu, inkberry, and New Zealand blueberry.[1] The name inkberry comes from the inky juice produced by the berries. The other common name, turutu, means 'to drip', which refers to the berries falling freely.[11]

Distribution

A mature Dianella nigra specimen
Habitat of Dianella nigra

Dianella nigra is endemic to New Zealand.[1] Its range mainly covers the North and South Island. It also occurs on the Three Kings Islands. The plant generally occurs throughout the North Island. In the South Island, D. nigra is present in the Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast, and Otago regions.[12] A population has been recorded near Lake Wānaka.[13] There are no herbarium records collected from the Southland Region, but the botanist Thomas Cheeseman noted that the species is found south to Foveaux Strait.[12][14] Its 2023 conservation status in the New Zealand Threat Classification System is "Not Threatened".[1]

Habitat

Dianella nigra typically inhabits coastal to montane environments, reaching 1,100 m (3,600 ft) above sea level in maximum altitude.[1] D. nigra prefers growing in partial shade on well-drained soils, typically growing beneath trees.[11] D. nigra is capable of colonising various different habitats, ranging from coastal headlands and gumland scrub, clay banks, occasionally peat boglands to dense forest and rarely subalpine scrub.[12][15]

Ecology

The berries of D. haematica are dispersed by fruit-eating animals (frugivores).[1] Berries are eaten by silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis).[11] D. nigra's pollination strategy is not well-studied.[16] D. nigra plays host to 'leafminer weevils' from the genus Microcryptorhynchus, which chew the leaves.[11]

Uses

Dianella nigra had several Māori names, including, piopio, pēpepe, rēua, and tūrutu. The only recorded use of the plant, according the ethnographer Elsdon Best, was the leaves being used to call birds.[17] There is a historical record from the late 1800s of an infant death linked to ingestion of the berries, which could suggest the berries are poisonous.[11][18] Dianella species elsewhere have historically been used as rat poison.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g De Lange 2026.
  2. ^ Bloor 2001, p. 1.
  3. ^ IPNI 2026.
  4. ^ Colenso 1884, p. 339.
  5. ^ a b Metcalf 2009, p. 24.
  6. ^ Colenso 1894, p. 396.
  7. ^ POWO 2026.
  8. ^ Devey et al. 2006, p. 4.
  9. ^ Muscat, Ladiges & Bayly 2019, p. 18.
  10. ^ Gledhill 2008, p. 139.
  11. ^ a b c d e Crowe 2009, p. 13.
  12. ^ a b c Heenan & De Lange 2007, p. 16.
  13. ^ Heenan & De Lange 2007, p. 9.
  14. ^ Cheeseman 1906, p. 715.
  15. ^ Moore 1978, p. 182.
  16. ^ Garnock-Jones 2025, p. 113.
  17. ^ Manaaki Whenua 2020.
  18. ^ a b Aston 1923, p. 149.

Works cited

Books

  • Cheeseman, T. F. (1906). Manual of the New Zealand flora (1 ed.). Wellington, New Zealand: Government of New Zealand.
  • Crowe, Andrew (2009). Which Native Forest Plant?. Auckland, New Zealand: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-300901-6.
  • Garnock-Jones, Philip (2025). He Puāwai. Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland University Press. ISBN 978-1-77671-168-0.
  • Gledhill, David (2008). The Names of Plants. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-68553-5.
  • Metcalf, Lawrie (2009). Know Your New Zealand Native Plants. Auckland, New Zealand: White Cloud Books. ISBN 978-1-77694-036-3.
  • Moore, Lucy B. (1978). The Oxford Book of New Zealand Plants. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-558035-8.

Journals

Websites

  • Media related to Dianella nigra at Wikimedia Commons
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