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Pittosporum ferrugineum

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Pittosporum ferrugineum W.T.Aiton

Family Name: Pittosporaceae

Pittosporum ferrugineum is a small to medium sized tree that can grow to 20 m tall. It has aromatic, narrowly elliptic to obovate leaves with a tapering pointed tip. Flowers are fragrant, cream coloured, 5-petalled, clustered in an inflorescence near the ends of branches, amongst the foliage. The fruit is a capsule with wide, lobed to fluted base that turns orange and spilt open upon maturity to reveal brick red seeds coated in resins.

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form Tree (Medium (16m-30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore) Perennial
Mode of Nutrition Autotrophic
Maximum Height 20 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution Eastern Indonesia to Papua New Guinea, Australia (Northern Territory and Queensland)
Native Habitat Terrestrial (Monsoon Forest, Coastal Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone Tropical
Local Conservation Status Non-native

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form It is a small to medium sized tree that can grow to 20 m tall.
Foliage Leaves are thin, membranous to leathery, narrow elliptic to slightly spoon-shaped, downturned measuring 8 - 11.5 cm long by 3.5 - 5.5 cm wide with a tapering, pointed tip and wavy leaf margin. New shoots and leaves are covered in golden brown hairs. Short velvety hairs may still be present on the underside of mature foliage.
Flowers Flowers are either unisexual where male flowers are held on the separate individual or bisexual. Held on an inflorescence, flowers are clustered near the ends of the branches, amongst the foliage. They are fragrant, cream coloured, star-shaped with 5 recurved petals measuring about 6 mm long.
Fruit The fruit is an aromatic capsule with a wide, lobed to fluted base measuring about 10 mm long clustered in groups. Upon maturity, the capsule turn from green to orange, spilt open to reveal its brick red seeds coated in resin.
Habitat In coastal scrub or open grassy woodland.
Cultivation It can be propagated by seed, tolerable to salt spray. <1,2,3>
Etymology Greek pitta, tar, sporos, seed, referring to the resinous coating around the seed. Latin ferrugineum, rusty-brown in colour, referring to the short, rusty-brown hairs that cover the leaves.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping It is suitable for streetscapes, parks and gardens.
Desirable Plant Features Fragrant
Landscape Uses Coastal, Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Beachfront / Shoreline, Riverine

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s) Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth))
Seed or Spore Dispersal Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Full Sun, Semi-Shade
Water Preference Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate Moderate
Rootzone Tolerance Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray
Propagation Method Seed

Foliar

Foliage Retention Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s) Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s) Velvety / Furry / Tomentose
Foliar Type Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem Alternate, Whorled
Foliar Attachment to Stem Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s) Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Obovate)
Foliar Venation Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip Acuminate, Acute
Foliar Base Cuneate, Attenuate
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality Unisexual & Bisexual Flowers(Sub-dioecious) , Dioecious
Flower Colour(s) Cream / Off-White
Flower Grouping Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location Terminal
Flower Symmetry Radial
Flowering Habit Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s) Orange
Fruit Classification Simple Fruit
Fruit Type Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule
Mature Seed Colour(s) Red

References

References <1>  Cayzer, L.W. & Chandler, G.T. (2017). Pittosporum tinifolium A. Cunn.: a corrected name and reinstatement at species level for the Queensland species currently known as the rusty-leaved pittosporum, Pittosporum ferrugineum subspecies linifolium (A.Cunn.) L.Cayzer et al. (Pittosporaceae). Austrobaileya 10(1): 205-206.

<2> Cayzer, L.W. & Chandler, G.T. (2018). Pittosporum ridleyi (Pittosporaceae), a new name for the ‘rusty-leaved’ pittosporum in Malaysia. Garden's Bulletin Singapore 70(2): 397-404.

<3> Cayzer, L.W. & Crisp, M.D & Telford, I.R.H.T. (2000). Revision of Pittosporum (Pittosporaceae) in Australia. Australian Systematic Botany 13: 888-889.

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Master ID 1774
Species ID 3067
Flora Disclaimer The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.
Species record last updated on: 27 November 2024.
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