Mingimingi

Common Names: Mingimingi, Prickly heath
Māori names: Mingimingi (and variants, mingi; mikimiki (South Island), miki), hukihuki, hukihukiraho; taumingi, tūmingi; inakapōriro, inangapōriro, mangapōriro; kūkuku, ngohungohu (Best 1908), pātōtara (Lyall in Best 1942). All these names recorded by Williams 1971.
Botanical Name: Cyathodes juniperina
Family: Epacridaceae Epacris or southern heath family

Description:
Mingimingi is a spreading shrub of approximately 1.5m tall. It has leaves that are thin and pointed approximately 6-15mm long. Mingimingi has single green-white flowers, these are located on the leave axil. They are found throughout the country. Mingimingi can have black stems. Its fruit is either white pink or red and approximately 4-7mm in diameter. Mingimingi flowers and fruits throughout the year. It likes to grow throughout the in places with mild winters.

Constituents and Properties:
Expectorant

Caution:
None reported

Culinary:
Fruits are edible.

Medicine:
Mingimingi leaves can be boiled in water this is drunk for kidney problems, asthma and menstrual difficulties. The liquid can also be used as a dressing for septic wounds.

An infusion of leaves can be brewed to give to children for respiratory complaints, it has a sweet taste, which the children prefer to drink.

Historical notes:
n.d. “A pulp of the leaves was applied to the joints for rheumatism” (Cranwell)

1959 “An infusion of the leaves of this little plant was, and still is, used for alimentary disorders.” (Faulkner).

1961 “A decoction is ideal for washing wounds because of its antiseptic properties.” (Ballara)