256 Species in Genus Pittosporum

Pittosporum: A Deep Dive with Ferb Vu

The world of plants is vast and diverse, filled with intriguing specimens that capture the imagination. Among these is the genus Pittosporum, a group of flowering plants that has always fascinated me. With their glossy leaves, fragrant flowers, and intriguing seed capsules, they offer a captivating blend of beauty and resilience. Join me, Ferb Vu, as we delve into the world of Pittosporum, exploring its characteristics, diversity, and ecological significance.

What is Pittosporum?

Pittosporum is a genus of approximately 200 species of flowering plants belonging to the family Pittosporaceae. The name Pittosporum originates from the Greek words “pitta” (meaning pitch) and “sporos” (meaning seed), referring to the sticky resinous substance that surrounds the seeds of many species. These plants are typically evergreen shrubs or trees, ranging in height from 2 to 30 meters. They are characterized by their simple, alternately arranged leaves, often with wavy margins, and their fragrant flowers, which are usually white, cream, or yellow. The flowers are followed by woody capsules that split open to reveal sticky seeds.

A Global Citizen

While the exact origin of Pittosporum remains uncertain, it’s believed to have Gondwanan roots, with its current distribution spanning Australasia, Oceania, eastern Asia, and parts of Africa. This wide distribution speaks to the genus’s adaptability and resilience, with species thriving in a variety of habitats, from coastal cliffs to montane forests.

Diversity within Pittosporum

One of the most captivating aspects of Pittosporum is its remarkable diversity. The genus encompasses a wide array of species, each with its own unique characteristics and adaptations. Here are:

1. Pittosporum abyssinicum Delile
2. Pittosporum acuminatissimum Merr.
3. Pittosporum aliferum Tirel & Veillon
4. Pittosporum ambrense Cufod.
5. Pittosporum anamallayense M.P.Nayar & G.S.Giri
6. Pittosporum aneityense Guillaumin
7. Pittosporum anggiense D.M.Hicks & Utteridge
8. Pittosporum angustifolium G.Lodd.
9. Pittosporum angustilimbum C.Y.Wu
10. Pittosporum anomalum Laing & Gourlay
11. Pittosporum arborescens Rich. ex A.Gray
12. Pittosporum argentifolium Sherff
13. Pittosporum artense Guillaumin
14. Pittosporum balansae Aug.DC.
15. Pittosporum balfourii Cufod.
16. Pittosporum baudouinii Brongn. & Gris
17. Pittosporum berberidoides Burkill
18. Pittosporum bernardii Tirel & Veillon
19. Pittosporum bicolor Hook.
20. Pittosporum boninense Koidz.
21. Pittosporum bouletii Veillon & Tirel
22. Pittosporum brackenridgei A.Gray
23. Pittosporum bracteolatum Endl.
24. Pittosporum brevicalyx (Oliv.) Gagnep.
25. Pittosporum brevispinum Veillon & Tirel
26. Pittosporum buchananii Hook.f.
27. Pittosporum bullatoferrugineum Cufod.
28. Pittosporum cacondense Exell & Mendonça
29. Pittosporum campbellii F.Muell.
30. Pittosporum ceylanicum Wight
31. Pittosporum chelidospermum Blume
32. Pittosporum cherrieri Tirel & Veillon
33. Pittosporum clementis Merr.
34. Pittosporum coccineum (Montrouz.) Beauvis.
35. Pittosporum colensoi Hook.f.
36. Pittosporum collinum Guillaumin
37. Pittosporum comptum K.Schum. & Lauterb.
38. Pittosporum confertiflorum A.Gray
39. Pittosporum coriaceum Aiton
40. Pittosporum cornifolium A.Cunn. ex Hook.
41. Pittosporum crassicaule Laing & Gourlay
42. Pittosporum crassifolium Banks & Sol. Plant FAQs: Pittosporum Crassifolium – Karo
43. Pittosporum cravenianum Schodde
44. Pittosporum crispulum Gagnep.
45. Pittosporum croceum Guillaumin
46. Pittosporum dallii Cheeseman
47. Pittosporum daphniphylloides Hayata
48. Pittosporum dasycaulon Miq.
49. Pittosporum densiflorum Putt.
50. Pittosporum deplanchei Brongn. & Gris
51. Pittosporum divaricatum Cockayne
52. Pittosporum dzumacense Guillaumin
53. Pittosporum echinatum Brongn. & Gris
54. Pittosporum elevaticostatum H.T.Chang & S.Z.Yan
55. Pittosporum ellipticum Kirk
56. Pittosporum epiphyticum Merr.
57. Pittosporum eriocarpum Royle
58. Pittosporum erioloma C.Moore & F.Muell.
59. Pittosporum eugenioides A.Cunn.
60. Pittosporum euphlebium Merr.
61. Pittosporum fairchildii Cheeseman
62. Pittosporum ferrugineum W.T.Aiton
63. Pittosporum fissicalyx Miq.
64. Pittosporum flocculosum (Hillebr.) Sherff
65. Pittosporum fulvipilosum H.T.Chang & S.Z.Yan
66. Pittosporum fulvotomentosum Engl.
67. Pittosporum gagnepainianum Gowda
68. Pittosporum gagnepainii Doweld
69. Pittosporum gatopense Guillaumin
70. Pittosporum gayanum Rock
71. Pittosporum glaberrimum Merr.
72. Pittosporum glabratum Lindl.
73. Pittosporum glabrum Hook. & Arn.
74. Pittosporum goetzei Engl.
75. Pittosporum gracile Pancher ex Brongn. & Gris
76. Pittosporum halophilum Rock
77. Pittosporum hawaiiense Hillebr.
78. Pittosporum heckelii Dubard
79. Pittosporum hematomallum Guillaumin
80. Pittosporum henryi Gowda
81. Pittosporum heterophyllum Franch.
82. Pittosporum hosmeri Rock
83. Pittosporum humbertii Cufod.
84. Pittosporum humile Hook.f. & Thomson
85. Pittosporum huttonianum Kirk
86. Pittosporum illicioides Makino
87. Pittosporum impressum (Ridl.) L.W.Cayzer & Utteridge
88. Pittosporum inopinatum K.Bakker
89. Pittosporum × intermedium Kirk
90. Pittosporum isolatum L.W.Cayzer & Utteridge
91. Pittosporum javanicum (Blume) Blume
92. Pittosporum johnstonianum Gowda
93. Pittosporum kaalense Guillaumin
94. Pittosporum karnatakense Saldanha & S.R.Ramesh
95. Pittosporum kauaiense Hillebr.
96. Pittosporum kerrii Craib
97. Pittosporum kirkii Hook.f. ex Kirk
98. Pittosporum koghiense Guillaumin
99. Pittosporum kororoense Benwell
100. Pittosporum kunmingense H.T.Chang & S.Z.Yan
101. Pittosporum kwangsiense H.T.Chang & S.Z.Yan
102. Pittosporum kweichowense Gowda
103. Pittosporum lacrymasepalum Utteridge
104. Pittosporum lancifolium (F.M.Bailey) L.W.Cayzer, Crisp & I.Telford
105. Pittosporum lanipetalum Tirel & Veillon
106. Pittosporum ledermannii E.Pritz.
107. Pittosporum lenticellatum Chun ex H.Peng & Y.F.Deng
108. Pittosporum leptosepalum Gowda
109. Pittosporum leratii Guillaumin
110. Pittosporum leroyanum Tirel & Veillon
111. Pittosporum letocartiorum Veillon & Tirel
112. Pittosporum ligustrifolium A.Cunn.
113. Pittosporum lineare Laing & Gourlay
114. Pittosporum linearifolium Sugau
115. Pittosporum longisepalum K.Bakker
116. Pittosporum loniceroides Brongn. & Gris
117. Pittosporum luteum H.St.John
118. Pittosporum mackeei Tirel & Veillon
119. Pittosporum macrosepalum Cufod.
120. Pittosporum maireaui H.St.John
121. Pittosporum malaxanii Veillon & Tirel
122. Pittosporum maoshanense Z.H.Chen, G.Y.Li & X.F.Jin
123. Pittosporum maxwellii Utteridge
124. Pittosporum megacarpum Merr.
125. Pittosporum merrillianum Gowda
126. Pittosporum michiei Allan
127. Pittosporum mildbraedii Engl.
128. Pittosporum moluccanum (Lam.) Miq.
129. Pittosporum × monae Rock ex H.St.John
130. Pittosporum monticola Miq.
131. Pittosporum morierei Vieill. ex Guillaumin
132. Pittosporum multiflorum (A.Cunn. ex Benth.) L.W.Cayzer, Crisp & I.Telford
133. Pittosporum muricatum Tirel & Veillon
134. Pittosporum napaliense Sherff
135. Pittosporum napaulense (DC.) Rehder & E.H.Wilson
136. Pittosporum nativitatis Baker f.
137. Pittosporum neelgherrense Wight & Arn.
138. Pittosporum nubicola Schodde
139. Pittosporum nubigenum Ridl.
140. Pittosporum × obcordatum Raoul
141. Pittosporum oblongilimbum Merr.
142. Pittosporum obovatum Guillaumin
143. Pittosporum obscurinerve Merr.
144. Pittosporum ochrosiifolium Bojer
145. Pittosporum odoratum Merr.
146. Pittosporum oligodontum Gillespie
147. Pittosporum oligophlebium H.T.Chang & S.Z.Yan
148. Pittosporum omeiense H.T.Chang & S.Z.Yan
149. Pittosporum oreillyanum C.T.White
150. Pittosporum oreophilum Guillaumin
151. Pittosporum ornatum Tirel & Veillon
152. Pittosporum orohenense J.W.Moore
153. Pittosporum oubatchense Schltr.
154. Pittosporum owenstanleyense L.W.Cayzer & Utteridge
155. Pittosporum pachyphyllum Baker
156. Pittosporum pancheri Brongn. & Gris
157. Pittosporum pangalanense Cufod.
158. Pittosporum paniculatum Brongn. & Gris
159. Pittosporum paniculiferum H.T.Chang & S.Z.Yan
160. Pittosporum paniense Guillaumin
161. Pittosporum parvicapsulare H.T.Chang & S.Z.Yan
162. Pittosporum parvifolium Hayata
163. Pittosporum parvilimbum H.T.Chang & S.Z.Yan
164. Pittosporum patelliplacenta (Schodde) L.W.Cayzer & Utteridge
165. Pittosporum patulum Hook.f.
166. Pittosporum pauciflorum Hook. & Arn.
167. Pittosporum pentandrum (Blanco) Merr.
168. Pittosporum perahuense H.St.John
169. Pittosporum perglabratum H.T.Chang & S.Z.Yan
170. Pittosporum peridoticola Sugau & Ent
171. Pittosporum perryanum Gowda
172. Pittosporum pervillei Blume
173. Pittosporum phillyreoides DC.
174. Pittosporum pickeringii A.Gray
175. Pittosporum pimeleoides A.Cunn. ex Putt.
176. Pittosporum planilobum H.T.Chang & S.Z.Yan
177. Pittosporum podocarpum Gagnep.
178. Pittosporum polyspermum Tul.
179. Pittosporum poueboense Guillaumin
180. Pittosporum poumense Guillaumin
181. Pittosporum praedictum Schodde
182. Pittosporum pronyense Guillaumin
183. Pittosporum pseudostipitatum Merr.
184. Pittosporum pulgarense Elmer
185. Pittosporum pullifolium Burkill
186. Pittosporum pumilum Schodde
187. Pittosporum purpurascens (Schodde) L.W.Cayzer & Utteridge
188. Pittosporum purpureum H.St.John
189. Pittosporum qinlingense Y.Ren & X.Liu
190. Pittosporum raivavaeense H.St.John
191. Pittosporum ralphii Kirk
192. Pittosporum ramiflorum (Zoll. & Moritzi) Zoll. ex Miq.
193. Pittosporum ramosii Merr.
194. Pittosporum rangitahua E.K.Cameron & Sykes
195. Pittosporum rapense F.Br.
196. Pittosporum rarotongense Hemsl.
197. Pittosporum reflexisepalum C.Y.Wu
198. Pittosporum rehderianum Gowda
199. Pittosporum resiniferum Hemsl.
200. Pittosporum reticosum Ridl.
201. Pittosporum revolutum W.T.Aiton
202. Pittosporum rhytidocarpum A.Gray
203. Pittosporum ridleyi L.W.Cayzer & G.Chandler
204. Pittosporum rigidum Hook.f.
205. Pittosporum roimata Gemmill & S.N.Carter
206. Pittosporum rubiginosum A.Cunn.
207. Pittosporum salicifolium Danguy
208. Pittosporum samoense Christoph.
209. Pittosporum saxicola Rehder & E.H.Wilson
210. Pittosporum schoddei L.W.Cayzer & Utteridge
211. Pittosporum scythophyllum Schltr.
212. Pittosporum senacia Putt.
213. Pittosporum serpentinum (de Lange) de Lange
214. Pittosporum sessilifolium Tirel & Veillon
215. Pittosporum silamense Sugau
216. Pittosporum simsonii Montrouz.
217. Pittosporum sinuatum Blume
218. Pittosporum sogeriense L.W.Cayzer & Utteridge
219. Pittosporum spinescens (F.Muell.) L.W.Cayzer, Crisp & I.Telford
220. Pittosporum spissescens Utteridge
221. Pittosporum stenopetalum Baker
222. Pittosporum suatinum Schodde
223. Pittosporum subulisepalum Hu & F.T.Wang
224. Pittosporum sulawesiense L.W.Cayzer & G.Chandler
225. Pittosporum sylvaticum Guillaumin
226. Pittosporum taitense Putt.
227. Pittosporum takauele H.St.John
228. Pittosporum tanianum Veillon & Tirel
229. Pittosporum tenuifolium Gaertn. Plant FAQs: Pittosporum Tenuifolium
230. Pittosporum tenuivalvatum H.T.Chang & S.Z.Yan
231. Pittosporum terminalioides Planch. ex A.Gray
232. Pittosporum tetraspermum Wight & Arn.
233. Pittosporum timorense Blume
234. Pittosporum tinifolium A.Cunn.
235. Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) W.T.Aiton Plant FAQs: Japanese Pittosporum – Pittosporum Tobira
236. Pittosporum tonkinense Gagnep.
237. Pittosporum trigonocarpum H.Lév.
238. Pittosporum trilobum L.W.Cayzer, Crisp & I.Telford
239. Pittosporum truncatum E.Pritz.
240. Pittosporum tubiflorum H.T.Chang & S.Z.Yan
241. Pittosporum turneri Petrie
242. Pittosporum umbellatum Gaertn.
243. Pittosporum undulatifolium H.T.Chang & S.Z.Yan
244. Pittosporum undulatum Vent. Plant FAQs: Pittosporum Undulatum
245. Pittosporum venulosum F.Muell.
246. Pittosporum verrucosum Veillon & Tirel
247. Pittosporum viburnifolium Hayata
248. Pittosporum virgatum Kirk
249. Pittosporum viridiflorum Sims
250. Pittosporum viridulum M.P.Nayar, G.S.Giri & V.Chandras.
251. Pittosporum viscidum L.W.Cayzer, Crisp & I.Telford
252. Pittosporum wingii F.Muell.
253. Pittosporum xanthanthum Schltr.
254. Pittosporum xenicum Schodde
255. Pittosporum xylocarpum Hu & F.T.Wang
256. Pittosporum yunckeri A.C.Sm.

Ecological Importance

Beyond their ornamental value, Pittosporum species play significant roles in their respective ecosystems. They provide food and shelter for a variety of animals, including birds, insects, and small mammals. The flowers are often visited by pollinators such as bees and butterflies, while the fruits are consumed by birds, which help disperse the seeds. Furthermore, some species are used in traditional medicine or for timber.

Pittosporum and Me

My interest in Pittosporum stems from a deep appreciation for the natural world and a fascination with the intricacies of plant life. I am particularly drawn to the genus’s diversity, its adaptability, and its ecological significance. I believe that Pittosporum exemplifies the beauty and resilience of nature, and I am eager to continue learning more about this captivating group of plants.

Whether you’re a seasoned botanist or simply an admirer of nature’s wonders, I encourage you to take a closer look at Pittosporum. You might be surprised by what you discover.