Pittosporum resiniferum Hemsl., Pittosporaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 6 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

English: petroleum nut, resin cheesewood

Filipino: abkol, apisang, hanga

Habit:  tree

Description:  "An aromatic tree to 30 m tall, but probably smaller in its forest habitats (perhaps even epiphytic); fruiting when only 6-12 m tall.  Leaves aromatic, coriaceous, entire (possibly evergreen), thickest above the middle, pinnately nerved, with a short acumen at the tip.  Flowers are fragrant, white, clustered on the stems.  Fruits average 25 mm in diameter (12-43). Each fruit has 5-72 seeds (average 31).  Seeds range from 1-40 mm, averaging 3 mm, are about as close to hexahedral and prismatic, being quite angular, black to blackish gold, often still surrounded by a gummy or resinous endocarp"  (Agroforestree Database).

Habitat/ecology:  "Endemic to the Philippines, petroleum nut tree is reported to range from 600-2400 m elevation, usually in elfin or Benguet Pine Forest.  Ranging from Tropical Dry to Moist through Subtropical Forest Life Zones, this tree grows where the annual precipitation ranges from 1500 mm to more than 5000 mm (mean of 36 cases = 27 dm), annual temperature from 18-28øC.  Altitude range: 600-2400 m,  Mean annual Temperature: 18-28øC, Mean annual rainfall: 1500-5000 mm"  (Agroforestree Database).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Philippines  (Agroforestree Database).  Philippine Islands, Malaysia (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	O‘ahu Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 631632) Taxon name on voucher: Pittosporum resiniferum Hemsl.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 224) Common, growing as an epiphytic or pseudoepiphytic plant on trees in the mossy forest, altitude 900 to 2,400 m.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Comments:  "The English name petroleum nut tree alludes to the fancied resemblance of the odor of the fruit's oil to that of petroleum, the fruits, even green ones burn brilliantly when ignited.  The English name petroleum nut tree alludes to the fancied resemblance of the odor of the fruit's oil to that of petroleum, the fruits, even green ones burn brilliantly when ignited"  (Agroforestree Database).

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