It is too gnarled and twisted to be of any great use, but it has been used for ornamental cabinet work, inlaying and wood turning. Nowadays, it is used for making wooden brooches and other ornaments. The berries are sometimes collected and made into jam. F. excorticata is the largest species of the genus, and was discovered by Banks and Solander while on the first voyage of the Endeavour. A deciduous spreading tree 6 to 12 m tall, although sometimes small and shrubby.
Branches stout, spreading, branchless brittle, pubescent when young.
Leaves 5 to 10 cm long by 2.5 to 5 cm wide, ovatelanceolate to ovate-oblong, acuminate or acute, rounded or cuneately narrowed at the base, thin and membranous, glabrous except for some hairs on the margins and veins above and below, medium green above, silvery beneath and sometimes flushed with purplish red, venation distinct, margins entire or sinuate and obscurely toothed. Berry 12 mm long, oblong, purple to black. Common on lowland to lower mountain forests throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands. Also on Auckland Island. Sea level to 1060 m. Flowering July to December .