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PITTOSPORACEAE

PITTOSPORUM FAMILY

Elizabeth McClintock

Tree, shrub, woody vine, generally evergreen
Leaves simple, alternate, sometimes crowded at branch tips, often leathery, generally entire, generally petioled
Inflorescence: panicle, cluster, or flowers solitary
Flower generally bisexual, radial; sepals 5, free, sometimes fused toward base; petals 5, free, erect or spreading, or weakly adherent ± into a tube; stamens 5; ovary superior, chambers generally 2–3, style 1, stigma generally head-like
Fruit: capsule, berry
Seeds several, often in pulp
Genera in family: 9 genera, ± 200 species: warm temp, tropical, Old World, especially Australia, New Zealand, e Asia; some ornamental, especially Pittosporum , in CA.

PITTOSPORUM

Tree, shrub
Leaf: tip acute or rounded
Inflorescence: panicle, cluster, or flowers solitary, terminal or axillary
Flower generally functionally unisexual; petals generally adherent below, free, spreading above; anthers free; ovary chambers 2–3
Fruit: capsule, woody, 2–3 valved; pulp resinous
Seeds sticky
Species in genus: ± 150 species: warm parts of Australia, New Zealand, Pacific islands, e Asia, Africa
Etymology: (Greek: pitch, seed, from resinous seed coating)
Some species have medicinal and poisonous properties; saponins in P. crassifolium.

Introduced

P. tenuifolium Gaertn.

Tree
Stem < 8 m; branchlets lightly hairy
Leaf generally 2–3 cm, oblong to oblong-ovate, papery; lower surface generally paler, glabrous; margin ± wavy; petiole 3–10 mm
Inflorescence: cluster, terminal or axillary
Flower not fragrant; petals 10–12 mm, dark red to purple-black
Fruit 10–12 mm, ± round, glabrous, 2-valved
Seed black
Ecology: Uncommon. Disturbed urban areas
Elevation: < 200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Central Coast (San Francisco Peninsula), expected elsewhere
Distribution outside California: native to New Zealand

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bioregional map for PITTOSPORUM%20tenuifolium being generated
 


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