TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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Jepson Interchange (more information) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
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 23, 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.
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 23
Fruit: capsule, woody, 23 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 |
Tree
Stem < 15 m; branchlets hairy, becoming glabrous
Leaf 515 cm, widely lanceolate, papery, glabrous; tip acuminate; margin ± wavy; petiole 525 mm
Inflorescence: cluster, umbel-like, terminal
Flower fragrant; petals 1015 mm, white
Fruit 1015 mm, ± round, glabrous, 2-valved
Seed reddish
Ecology: Uncommon. Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Central Coast, South Coast
Distribution outside California: native to se Australia