26/10/2025
The Patē, or seven-finger, is a significant native plant of New Zealand.
Here is more detailed information about Schefflera digitata:
General Characteristics
Feature Detail
Scientific Name : Schefflera digitata
Common Names Patē (or Patatē, Patete), Seven-finger, Umbrella Tree
Origin Endemic (found only) to New Zealand
Appearance A small, spreading tree that typically grows up to 3-8 meters (10-26 ft) tall.
Habitat Widespread throughout the North, South, and Stewart Islands, from sea level up to 1,200 meters. It prefers damp, shady parts of the forest, often near stream banks.
Leaves The most distinctive feature. They are palmate (hand-shaped), composed of typically seven (but ranging from three to ten) thin, soft leaflets that radiate from a central point. The margins of the leaflets are sharply serrated (toothed).
Flowers Small, greenish-white or cream-coloured flowers that hang in large, multi-branched clusters (panicles) during summer.
Fruit Small, fleshy, round berries that ripen to a dark purple colour in autumn, providing an important food source for native birds.
Ecological Role and Comparison
Bird Food: The Patē's purple berries are a key food source for native birds like the tūī, bellbirds (korimako), and tauhou (waxeyes).
Lookalike Species: It is often confused with another New Zealand native, the Five-finger (Pseudopanax arboreus). The main difference is the leaves: Patē leaves are thinner and softer with finer serrations, while Five-finger leaves are thicker, leathery, and glossier with larger teeth.
Traditional Māori Uses
The Māori had several practical and medicinal uses for the Patē:
Medicinal: The sap of the tree was used as an ointment for skin fungi, including ringworm and scrofulous sores. The leaves contain a compound called falcarindiol, which has been scientifically shown to be effective against common dermatophyte fungi (like the cause of athlete's foot and ringworm).
Dyes: The dark juice extracted from the berries was used as a dye or ink.
Domestic: The soft wood was historically used by Māori to create fire by friction (as a base wood).
