Pittosporum eugenioides
Common name
tarata, lemonwood
Synonyms
Pittosporum elegans Raoul, P. microcarpum Putt.
Family
Pittosporaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
PITEUG
Chromosome number
2n = 24
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley.
2012 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Brief description
Tree bearing light green wavy-edge oval leaves and with a contrasting pale green central vein, dense sprays of yellow flowers and small dry fruits. Leaf buds covered in dark-edged scales. Fruit pointed, 5-6mm long which splits into two to show a papery layer covering black sticky seeds.
Distribution
Endemic. Common in the North and South Islands.
Habitat
Common tree of regenerating and mature forest in coastal to montane situations.
Features
Gynodioecious tree up to 12 m tall but usually much less. Trunk 0.6-1 m diam, stout, clad in persistent pale-grey bark, branches numerous, erect then spreading. Leaf buds sticky, resinous. Leaves borne on slender petioles 10-20 mm long, alternate, 50-100(-150) x 25-40 mm, yellow-green, green, more or less blotched and mottled with paler green or yellow-green (sometimes white), somewhat leathery, glossy, smelling strongly when crushed of ivy or resin, elliptic to elliptic-oblong, apex acute to subacute; leaf margin undulate (very rarely not so), midrib pale green. Inflorescences terminal, numerous, subcorymbose compound umbels. Flowers pale yellow to yellow, very fragrant. Peduncles 10-20 mm, pedicels 5 mm, both sparsely hairy. Sepals 2 mm, ovate to narrow-ovate, pale caducous. Petals 5, 5-7 mm long, narrow-oblong. Capsules 2-valved (rarely 3), 5-6 mm, ovoid to elliptic, caducous, seeds immersed in dark yellow viscid pulp, whole structure covered in long persistent papery endocarp.
Similar taxa
Well marked from all other indigenous and exotic Pittosporum spp. in New Zealand, by the yellow-green, mottled lanceolate leaves with undulating margins, and pale-yellow to yellow flowers arranged in subcorymbose compound umbels.
Flowering
October - December
Flower colours
Yellow
Fruiting
October - January
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed. Can be grown from semi-hardwood cuttings.
Etymology
pittosporum: Pitch seed
eugenioides: Like Eugenia, a species of myrtle
Where To Buy
Commonly cultivated and available from most garden centres, and then often as a variegated form rather than the pure plant. Occasionally seen for sale in European and English garden centres.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 30 August 2006. Description adapted from Cooper (1956).
References and further reading
Cooper, R.C. 1956: The Australian and New Zealand species of Pittosporum. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 43: 87-188
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Pittosporum eugenioides Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/pittosporum-eugenioides/ (Date website was queried)