Wikipedia
Karaka or New Zealand laurel (Corynocarpus laevigatus) is an evergreen tree of the family Corynocarpaceae endemic to New Zealand. It is common throughout the North and South Islands to Banks Peninsula (43°45′S) and Okarito (43°20′S), on the Three Kings Islands, on Raoul Island in the Kermadecs, and on the Chatham Islands. It is widespread in coastal habitats, often forming a major component of coastal forest, though it rarely dominates. Most botanists consider it to be native only to the northern half of the North Island, having been planted elsewhere by Māori near former village sites, and subsequently spread by birds. The common name karaka comes from the Māori language, and is also the Māori term for the colour orange, from the colour of the fruit. In the Chatham Islands, it is called kōpī, its name in the Moriori language. It is naturalised and considered invasive in Hawaii.
Karaka may refer to the following:
- Karaka (tree), a tree endemic to New Zealand
- Karaka, New Zealand, a small town in the North Island, New Zealand
- Karaka (astrology), a concept in Vedic astrology (Jyotisha)
- A concept in the grammar of , roughly similar to the concept of thematic role or theta role
- Karaka, the Māori word for the colour orange
- Karaka is a family name in Andhra Pradesh.
- Awabakal language word meaning "honey of the grasstree" (Káraka or Ká-ra-ka)
- Karaka (sailing vessel), ship being used for the past several years as a base for a non profit floating community
Usage examples of "karaka".
Swanki, the Piccaninny girl, and Tiki, the Piccaninny boy, were up in a karaka tree eating the pulp of the ripe berries.
When I was young I was told I would die if I ate the karaka berries, but I suppose Piccaninny tummies are different.
The rutted track disappeared, leaving nothing but native totara and karaka and a narrow track leading up to the clearing at the summit.
Together, they slipped into the manuka, karaka and totara trees that bordered the rear of the property.