Pittosporum ferrugineum Dryand. ex W.T.Aiton

Pittosporaceae

Dryander, J. in Aiton, W.T. (1811) Hortus Kewensis 2: 27. Type: Cultivated K, Nat. of Guinea. Introd. before 1787, by the Earl of Tankerville. Fide Cooper (1956).

Rusty Pittosporum

A small tree not exceeding 30 cm dbh. Blaze odour resembles that of Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) or Western Lime (Eremocitrus glauca).

Leaf blades about 6-13 x 2.5-5 cm. Midrib raised in a depression on the upper surface of the leaf blade, petiole pubescent, channelled on the upper surface. Leaf bearing twigs pubescent.

Sepals linear to linear-lanceolate, about 2.5-3.5 x 0.6-1.2 mm. Petals about 7-9 x 1.2-1.5 mm. Stamens about 4-6.5 mm long. Ovary about 3-4 x 0.8-2 mm.

Capsules globose, 2-valved, about 7-10 mm diam. Valves less than 1 mm thick. Placentas with funicles attached from the base to the middle. Seeds about 15-16, aril or sarcotesta sticky.

Cotyledons narrowly ovate to linear, about 12-22 mm long. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade elliptic or obovate, apex acuminate, base cuneate, upper surface glabrous or with a few hairs near the base on the midrib; petiole, stem and terminal bud clothed in pale brown, mostly prostrate hairs. Cataphylls may be present at about the 9th-12th leaf stage. Crushed roots have an odour like Lime. Seed germination time 36 to 72 days.

Occurs in NT, CYP, NEQ, CEQ and southwards as far as south east Queensland. Altitudinal range from sea level to 600 m. Grows in monsoon forest and dry rain forest but its preferred habitat is beach forest. Also occurs in SE Asia, Malesia and the Solomon Islands.

This small tree has potential in horticulture and is noted for ease of culture, the masses of small white flowers and the yellow fruits.

This species has been used as a fish poison and in the treatment of malaria.

Pittosporum linifolium R.Cunn., Annals of Natural History 4 : 109(1839), Type: In ora orientali inter tropicam: ad fluvium Endeavour dict., 1819, A. Cunningham. Pittosporum ovatifolium F.Muell., Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 2: 78(1861), Type: In clivis siccis insulae Albany Island Australiae septentrionali-orientalis. Pittosporum queenslandicum Domin, Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 11: 201(1912), Type: Queensland: Keppel Bay, Rob. Brown (Iter Australiense 1802 -1805, no 5449).