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 150mm long or more. Leaves are 250mm–800mm ×12mm–18mm (9.84in–31.50in ×0.47in–0.71in) 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 1m (3ft 3in) above the foliage. The panicles are 300–500mm (12–20in) long. Flowers are 9–11mm in diameter. Flowering typically occurs in November and December. The sepals are 4.4–4.5×1.6–1.7mm. The petals are 3.5–4.0×2.3–3.4mm and white to olive-green in colour. The glossy berries are 8–20×7–10mm, and grey-white to violet-blue in colour. D. nigra's seeds are 1.8–2.1×2.3–3.0mm 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 Dianellagenus 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]
Dianella nigra typically inhabits coastal to montane environments, reaching 1,100m (3,600ft) 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 diffirent habitats, ranging from coastal headlands and gumland scrub, clay banks, occasionally peat boglands to dense forest and rarely subalpine scrub.[12][15]
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]
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