Cordyline pumilio, commonly known as the
Dwarf cabbage tree, Pygmy cabbage tree or by its
Maori names
Ti koraha or
Ti rauriki, is a narrow-leaved
monocot shrub
endemic to
New Zealand. It usually grows up to tall, although rare examples of 2 metres tall have been reported. It has with long leaves and can easily be mistaken for a grass or a sedge.
C. pumilio grows in the north of the
North Island from North Cape at 34°S to Kawhia and Opotiki at about 38°S, generally under light forest and scrub. It was cultivated by
Maori as a source of carbohydrate and used as a relish to sweeten less palatable foods.