Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)

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Pittosporum tenuifolium
Gaertn., Pittosporaceae
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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: black matipo, kohuhu

Maori (NZ): kohuhu, tawhiwhi

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Tree up to ± 8 m. tall; trunk up to 3-(4) dm. in diameter; bark dark; branchlets and young leaves ± pubescent. Leaves alternate, on short petioles. Lamina oblong to oblong-ovate to elliptic-obovate, obtuse to acute or occasionally acuminate, (1)-3-(7) x (0ú5)-1-2 cm., entire, thinly coriaceous, ± undulate; us. rather pale green above, lighter below. Flowers somewhat fragrant, axillary, solitary or in small cymes on short pedicels; bracts soon falling. Sepals narrowly ovate-oblong, subacute to obtuse, silky-hairy when young. Petals very dark red (almost black), ± 12 mm. long; limb spreading, at length reflexed. Ovary hairy, style rather long, Capsules ± 12 mm. in diameter, 2-valved, subglobose; valves glabrous, rugulose when mature, thinly woody, nearly black when mature"  (Allan, 1982; p. 312).

Habitat/ecology:  In New Zealand (native), "coastal to lower montane forest"  (Allan, 1982; p. 312).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  New Zealand (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
Chile (offshore islands)
Juan Fernández Islands
Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island) introduced
invasive
cultivated
Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands)
Juan Fernández Islands
Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island) introduced
cultivated
Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (pp. 494, 540, 556)
Voucher cited: Danton I(5/208)1545. "En RC, lo encontramos en un único jardin del pueblo de San Juan Bautista.  Al igual que otras especies de Pittosporum ya presentes en la isla, este arbusto, si se instala, pondrá nuevos problemas para la flora nativa".
Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand (country) native
Allan, H. H. (1982) (p. 312)

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


Need more info? Have questions? Comments? Information to contribute? Contact PIER! (pier@hear.org)

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This page was created on 16 DEC 2010 and was last updated on 30 DEC 2010.