Pittosporaceae R.Br.
Evergreen trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing. Lvs alternate, opposite or subverticillate, exstipulate. Fls solitary, in cymes or panicles, 5-merous, actinomorphic, mostly ⚥. Sepals free or connate towards base. Petals free, imbricate, clawed. Stamens usually free; anthers opening by pores or slits. Ovary superior, 2-5-celled; placentation axile or parietal; ovules few to numerous. Style simple. Fr. usually a loculicidal capsule, sometimes a berry. Seeds usually immersed in viscous pulp, endospermic; embryo minute.
9 genera, c. 200 spp., temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of the Old World except Europe, especially Australia.
The largest genus, Pittosporum Gaertner, is represented in N.Z. by c. 24 indigenous spp. ranging from small shrubs to medium-sized trees. Some are amongst the most likely woody plants to occur in modified scrub and forest remnants, around plantations, fields, and cliff faces, and several of them are very commonly cultivated. In addition, members of other genera are cultivated, mostly from Australia.
The S.E. Australian Pittosporum undulatum Vent. has for many years been wild along c. 1 km of roadside scrub in Quarry Road, Kaitaia, N. Auckland. The colony was known to have been there before any cultivated plants of the sp. were in the area (R. H. Michie pers. comm.), so it is likely to have been introduced from elsewhere by birds. However, since it has never been other than rare in N.Z. gardens, it is probable that the Kaitaia plants originated either directly from Australia, or from Norfolk Id where it is an introduced weed of some importance. It is therefore unclear whether P. undulatum should be regarded as part of the naturalised or the indigenous flora. A shrub up to c. 3 m high. Petioles purplish; lamina to 15 × 5 cm, elliptic, strongly undulate; fls in terminal panicles, very fragrant; petals 10-12 mm long, almost white, reflexing; capsules 1-1.5 cm diam., subglobose before dehiscence, orange; seeds deep orange and extremely viscid. This combination of characters distinguishes P. undulatum from all indigenous N.Z. spp., as well as the few Asiatic and other Australian spp. in cultivation.
