The Araliaceae tree has several defences which the team suggest are linked to the historic presence of moa. Seedlings produce small narrow leaves, which appear mottled to the human eye.

Saplings meanwhile produce larger, more elongated leaves with thorn-like dentitions.

The mottled colours of seedling leaves are similar to the appearance of leaf litter, which would have made it difficult for a moa to distinguish.

The unusual colouring may also reduce the probability of leaf outlines and help camouflage them against the sunlight-draped forest floor.

These findings were published in New Phytologist.