Maori name for several species ofthe New Zealand trees of the genus Coprosma, N.O. Rubiaceae. Some of the species are called Tree-karamu, and others Bush-karamu; to thelatter ( C. lucida, Kirk) the name Coffee-plant,or Coffee-bush, is also applied.
1874. J. White, `Te Rou, or the Maori at Home,' p. 221:
«Then they tied a few Karamu branches in front of them and wenttowards the settlement.»
1876. J. C. Crawford, `Transactions of the New ZealandInstitute,' vol. IX. art. lxxx. p. 545:
«I have seen it stated that coffee of fine flavour has beenproduced from the karamu, coprosma lucida.»
1883. J. Hector, `Handbook of New Zealand, p. 132:
«Karamu. an ornamental shrub-tree; wood close-grained andyellow; might be used for turnery.»
1887. T. F. Cheeseman, `Transactions of the New ZealandInstitute,' vol. XX. art. xxii. p. 143:
«The first plant of interest noted was a new species of coprosma, with the habit of the common karamu.»
1889. T. Kirk, `Forest Flora of New Zealand,' p. 275:
«`Karamu' is applied by the Maoris to several species of Coprosma, amongst which, I believe, this[ C. arborea] is included, but it is commonly termed`tree-karamu' by bushmen and settlers in the North.»
1891. T. H. Potts, `Out in the Open,' `New Zealand CountryJournal,' vol. xv. p. 105:
«Of these fruits that of the karamu, (Coprosma lucida), seemed to be amongst the first to be selected.»