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Pittosporum

November 28th 2004

Pittosporum

The name Pittosporum is translated as Pitch seed which refers to the sticky seeds. Capsules 3 or 4 valved. An interesting feature is that some Pittosporums have 3 or 4 cotyledons, not the usual two. Seeds are slow to germinate, and most require a period of stratification. They should be scraped in sand to remove the sticky tar from the seed, then washed in warm running water. Store in the fridge for 60 days.The most success I have had with this genus is when I removed seed, ripe from the previous autumn, from the tree in spring. The seed had naturally gone through stratification over winter on the tree and it germinated readily once sown in October.
Pittosporum have become a very popular ornamental shrub or tree.


If you wish to learn more about native plants I suggest one of these natural history books from fishpond

Life-size Guide to New Zealand Native Ferns: Featuring the Caterpillars Which Feed on ThemA Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New ZealandGardener's Encyclopaedia of NZ Native PlantsTrees and Shrubs of New ZealandThe Reed Field Guide to New Zealand Native Trees

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