Editing Meryta sinclairii (section)

==Discovery==
Puka first came to European attention when [[William Colenso]] found a single tree growing at the head of Whangaruru Bay in [[Northland Region|Northland]] (on the New Zealand mainland). This tree was protected by a fence, and declared sacred by [[Māori people|Māori]], who told Colenso that they had brought the tree from the [[Poor Knights Islands]]. Colenso made frequent visits to Whangaruru Bay over several years in the vain hope of procuring flowers and fruit. Colenso pointed out the tree to Dr [[Andrew Sinclair (botanist)|Andrew Sinclair]], (1794–1861), [[Colonial Secretary (New Zealand)|Colonial Secretary]] and naturalist, for whom the tree would eventually be named. Colenso and Sinclair sent specimens of the foliage to Kew. Later William Mair found the tree, and he eventually succeeded in procuring specimens of the leaves and fruit, which were forwarded to Dr [[Joseph Dalton Hooker|Joseph Hooker]] at [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|Kew]]. From these specimens the original description of the tree was made under the name ''Botryodendrum sinclairii''.<ref>Kirk 1869</ref>