Our Tree of the Week was chosen by Chloe after spending some time in Norcal with her family. She has chosen the Mousehold Tree (Myoporum laetum), also known by its Māori name, Ngaio. It is native to New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands. You can find it naturally occurring in coastal areas, lowland forests, and it has also been introduced and grows along the coast and in the San Francisco Bay region of California. The Māori would rub the leaves over their skin to repel mosquitoes and sandflies. The leaf buds and inner bark also have uses in traditional rongoā medicinal practices, intended to soothe stomach pain or sore gums. Early European settlers to New Zealand used ngaio oil as a sheep dip, to protect sheep from parasites. However, be careful because leaves of this tree contain the liver toxin ngaione, which can cause sickness and or death in stock such as horses, cattle, sheep and pigs.