This variety is covered in masses of scarlet flowers, but it may bloom only once in three years. It has the same medicinal value as northern rata.

This juice, because of its astringent qualities, was poured over a wound, to arrest bleeding, before it was bandaged with leaves. The young leaves were chewed for toothache and the nectar from the flowers eased sore throats.

A chemical analysis of the bark of pukatea shows it contains the alkaloid pukateine, which has strong analgesic properties similar to those of morphine, but has no after effects (Fogg 1935).

This tree is easily distinguishable from the mamaku black tree fern because the under—surfaces of the fronds are a silvery white, a conspicuous feature.