Patē

Description
Patē (Schefflera digitata), also known as seven-finger, is a small evergreen native tree that typically grows around 3–8 metres tall. It has distinctive compound leaves made up of several soft, thin leaflets that spread from a central point like the fingers of a hand. Despite the name seven-finger, the number of leaflets can vary. Patē produces branching clusters of small greenish flowers, followed by small fleshy fruits that ripen to dark purple or almost black. Its relatively open form and large leaves give it a distinctive appearance in the forest understorey.

Habitat
Patē is endemic to New Zealand and is widespread throughout the North Island, South Island and Rakiura/Stewart Island. It is primarily a forest species and is particularly common in moist, shaded environments such as gullies, stream margins, damp lowland and montane forest and regenerating native vegetation. Patē generally prefers fertile, moisture-retentive soils and sheltered conditions. It is often found beneath taller canopy trees and can also establish readily in forest gaps and disturbed areas where moisture remains reliable.

Cultural Importance
Patē is part of the diverse native forest flora traditionally known and used by Māori. The tree has been associated with rongoā Māori, with parts of the plant used in traditional preparations. Its soft wood also had practical uses where a lightweight and easily worked material was suitable. Today, patē is particularly valued as an attractive native understorey tree and as a useful species for ecological restoration in moist and sheltered environments.

Ecological Role
Patē is an important understorey and subcanopy species in moist native forest. Its broad foliage contributes to the layered structure of the forest, creating shade and shelter for smaller plants, insects and other organisms. Its flowers are visited by insects, while its fleshy fruits provide food for native birds. Birds that consume the fruit can carry and disperse the seeds away from the parent tree, helping patē colonise forest gaps and regenerating areas. Its relatively rapid establishment also makes it useful during native forest recovery.

Associated Birds

Kererū: Kererū feed on a wide variety of native fruits and can consume the fleshy fruits of patē when they are available. After swallowing the fruit, kererū can transport seeds away from the parent tree and deposit them elsewhere, contributing to natural seed dispersal and forest regeneration.

Tūī: Tūī have a varied diet that includes nectar, fruit and insects. Fruiting patē provides a seasonal food source, while its foliage and flowers support insects that tūī may also forage for. By consuming the fruits and moving between trees, tūī can contribute to seed dispersal.

Korimako/Bellbird: Korimako feed on native fruits as well as nectar and invertebrates. They can make use of patē's small fleshy fruits when ripe and may disperse seeds as they move through the forest. Patē also contributes to the dense understorey and subcanopy habitat used by korimako for feeding and shelter.

Tauhou/Silvereye: Tauhou readily consume small native fruits and are well suited to feeding on the relatively small fruits produced by patē. They also search among the leaves and branches for insects. Their movement between fruiting plants can help distribute seeds through forest and regenerating vegetation.

Conservation Status
Patē is classified as Not Threatened in New Zealand and remains widespread within its natural range. It is common in many intact and regenerating native forests and can establish successfully following disturbance. Local populations can nevertheless be affected by forest clearance, browsing animals and degradation of moist forest habitats.

Interesting Facts

• Patē is endemic to New Zealand, meaning it occurs naturally nowhere else in the world.
• It is commonly called seven-finger because of its distinctive hand-like compound leaves.
• Despite the common name, individual leaves do not always have exactly seven leaflets.
• Patē is related to the commonly cultivated umbrella plants belonging to the wider Araliaceae family.
• Its small fleshy fruits change from green to dark purple or almost black as they ripen.
• Native birds help disperse patē by eating its fruit and carrying the seeds through the forest.
• It is particularly characteristic of damp, sheltered forest and frequently occurs around streams and gullies.
• Patē can establish relatively quickly in suitable forest gaps, making it useful in native restoration planting.

Conservation Tips
Protecting moist forest, gullies and riparian vegetation helps maintain healthy patē populations. Controlling browsing animals and invasive weeds gives seedlings and young trees a better chance of establishing naturally. In restoration projects, patē is particularly suitable for sheltered, moisture-retentive sites and can be planted as an understorey or early forest species. Combining it with other locally appropriate fruiting native plants can increase food resources for birds and encourage natural seed dispersal throughout the developing forest.

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