Figure

The leaves of the Mountain Horopito or Pepperwood (Pseudowintera colorata, pictured) have a very hot peppery taste. The new foliage is a bright red, and the leaves acquire an unusual blotched appearance as they mature. Pepperwood flowers are unusual in that they are only found on the stem, rather than among the leaves. The fossil record for this plant is around 65 million years old [113]. There are three other species in this genus: Pseudowintera axillaris, P. traversii and P. insperata – with the latter being threatened in the wild, with a total of less than 50 mature trees left. (Image courtesy peganum, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0).