Pittosporum and species

Pittosporum is a genus of about 200 species of flowering plants in the Pittogonia family.The genus probably originated on the continent of Gondwana; its current range extends from Oceania,Oceania,East Asia, and some parts of Africa.Citriobatus could be included here, but is probably a distinct (though closely related) genus.They are commonly referred to as Pittosporum, or more vaguely,Cheesewood.This species is a tree and shrub growing to a height of 2–30 m.The leaves are arranged in spirals or whorls, simple, with full or wavy (rarely lobed) margins.The flowers are solitary or in umbels or corymbs, each with five sepals and five petals; they are often sweetly scented.The fruit is a woody seed capsule that ruptures when ripe, releasing numerous seeds.The seeds are coated with a sticky resinous substance.The genus is named for its sticky seeds, from the Greek word meaning "pitch seeds".Tarata (P. eugenioides) and kohuhu (P. tenuifolium) in New Zealand and Japanese cheesewood (P. tobira) in southern Japan are widely grown as ornamentals in subtropical regions;Pittosporum can also be grown indoors as a bonsai.The petroleum nut (P.resiniferum) produces petroleum nut oil, which is sometimes proposed for use as a biofuel; it is more suitable as a source of n-heptane due to its excess n-heptane content and consequent low octane number,Otherwise n-heptane is produced from crude oil.Many herbivores detest pittosporum,especially their seeds,which will stick anywhere.But some animals eat them with relish, such as the parrot (Nestor notabilis),which loves P.anomalum fruits and seeds. Cotton pad scale (Icerya purchasesi) is a common pest of ornamental pittosporum, especially the New Zealand species; the cyst fungus Nectriella pironii often infests Japanese cheesewood.

Selected species 

• Pittosporum aliferum Tirel & Veillon

• Pittosporum

• Abnormal Pittosporum Laing & Gourlay

• Abundant Pittosporum. ex A. Gray

• Pittosporum argentifolium Sherff–hōʻawa

• Pittosporum artense Guillaumin

• Pittosporum bicolor

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum ceylonii

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum confertiflorum A. Gray–hōʻawa (Hawaii)

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum cornifolium tāwhiri karo

• Pittosporum crassifolium–karo

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum flower stems

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum microphylla

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum lessflora

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum phillyreoides–Pittosporum phillyreoides–Pittosporum willow, Pittosporum willow, Butternut,Native apricot

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum resiniferum–oil nut

• Pittosporum revolutum–Pittosporum revolutum, wild yellow jasmine, yellow pittosporum, Brisbane bay

• Pittosporum rhombifolium (now Auranticarpa rhombifolia) – Queensland Pittosporum, Diamond Pittosporum, Hollywood

• Pittosporum

• Red Pittosporum

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum angustifolia

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum tenuifolium – kōhūhū, kohukohu, black matipo (New Zealand)

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum tobira (Murray) Aiton fil–Japanese Cheesewood, Japanese Mock Orange (Japan, China and Korea)

• Pittosporum trifoliata

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum undulatum–Sweet Pittosporum, Australian Cheesewood,Native Daphne, Imitation Orange (Australian East Coast)

• Pittosporum venulosum F.Muell

• Pittosporum

• Green Pittosporum

• Green Pittosporum

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum

• Pittosporum vanii A.C.Sm.