Pittosporum pentandrum (Blanco) Merr., Pittosporaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: tai qiong hai tong

English: Taiwanese cheesewood, mamalis, pittosporum

Habit:  shrub/tree

Description:  "A small tree or shrub, the bark greenish-white, with conspicuous lenticels; branchlets brownish pubescent. Leaves obovate-lanceolate or elliptic lanceolate, 4-11 cm long, 1.3-4 cm broad, acute at both ends, entire to crenate; petioles 0.4-1.5 cm long. Inflorescence in terminal, small, crowded, brown-pubescent panicles, 2-8.6 cm long, the flowers small, crowded about 5 mm across; sepals 5, ovate, 1-2 mm long, distinct; petals 5, oblong-linear, 5 mm long truncate. Capsule globose, 7-8 mm across, slightly apiculate, 2-valved, the valves subwoody. Seeds 5-6, about 3 mm thick, angled" (Editorial Committee, Flora of Taiwan; p. 3:67).

Description from Flora of China online.

Habitat/ecology:  Moist and wet disturbed forests at low elevations. Commonly planted as a street tree.

Propagation:  Seed, spread by birds.

Native range:  China (S. Guangxi, Hainan), Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia (Celebes), Philippines (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Herbarium Pacificum Staff (1999) (p. 6) Voucher cited: B. Stevens 3 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2012) (p. 43) Voucher cited: D. Frohlich & A. Lau 2010031103 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Herbarium Pacificum Staff (1999) (p. 6) Voucher cited: E. Koes & L. Pyle 1 (BISH)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (pp. 222-223) Very common in secon-growth forests, parang, etc., at low and medium altitudes, ascending to 1,400 m.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) var. formosanum (Hayata) Z. Y. Zhang & Turland. "Thickets, slopes, seashores; sea level to 300 m". S Guangxi (Hepu Xian), Hainan.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Celebes
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 70) Cultivated only
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) var. formosanum (Hayata) Z. Y. Zhang & Turland. "Thickets, slopes, seashores; sea level to 300 m".
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced invasive cultivated	Herbarium Pacificum Staff (1999) (p. 6)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Pittosporum pentandrum, please let us know.