| Hairy red pittosporum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Pittosporaceae |
| Genus: | Pittosporum |
| Species: | P. rubiginosum |
| Binomial name | |
| Pittosporum rubiginosum | |
| Synonyms [3] | |
| |
Pittosporum rubiginosum, commonly known as hairy red pittosporum, is an evergreen shrub in the family Pittosporaceae which is endemic to northeastern Queensland, Australia. It was first described in 1840.
The hairy red pittosporum is a spindly shrub with a variable appearance as it grows. It usually grows up to about 3 m (9.8 ft) in height, however it may (rarely) reach 6 m (20 ft). The leaves are dark green above and usually purple underneath. Both sides of the leaves are glabrescent, meaning that they are initially hairy but become hairless with age. The size and shape of the leaves differ markedly from the juvenile stage to maturity − seedling leaves are densely hairy, those on a juvenile plant measure around 2.5 by 1.3 cm (1.0 by 0.5 in) while those of mature plants are about 24 by 8 cm (9.4 by 3.1 in). All stages have very short petioles and are mucronate, that is, they have a fine sharp point at the tip of the leaf. [4] [5] [6]
This species exhibits varying forms at different altitudes - in upland forest it is more likely to have the juvenile appearance, while in the lowlands it will tend to show the mature forms. [5]
The inflorescence may consist of a single flower or an umbel with numerous flowers. They are produced either terminally or in the leaf axils and measure up to 9.5 cm (3.7 in) long. The white flowers are held on densely hairy pedicels about 20 mm (0.8 in) long — the sepals are up to 9 mm (0.4 in) long, petals about 16 mm (0.6 in) long. [4] [5] [6]
The fruit is an ellipsoid (i.e. like a rugby ball) orange-yellow capsule about 23 mm (0.9 in) long and 15 mm (0.6 in) wide. At maturity it splits open on a longitudinal line, revealing a cluster of bright red sticky seeds packed closely together. [4] [5] [6]
This species was first described in 1840 by the English botanist Allan Cunningham, in a footnote in his paper dealing with the flora of New Zealand. [7] The species Pittosporum callicarpeum, published in 1925 by the Czech botanist Karel Domin, is now considered a synonym of this species. [8]
The genus name Pittosporum comes from the Ancient Greek words πίττα (pítta) meaning "resin", and σπορά (sporā́), meaning "seed", and is a reference to the sticky seeds. The species epithet rubiginosum is derived from the Latin robiginosus , meaning "rusty red", which may be a reference to the colour of the seeds, [6] or to the colour of the hairs on new growth. [5]
The natural range of Pittosporum rubiginosum is from Cape York Peninsula to Tully, and from sea level to about 1,500 m (4,900 ft) altitude. It is an understorey shrub in lowland and upland rainforest. [4] [5]
The fruit of the hairy red Pittosporum are eaten by cassowaries (Casuarius casuarius), giant white-tailed rats (Uromys caudimaculatus), and other native rodents. [6]
This species is listed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern. [1] As of 14 April 2023 [update] , it has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Pittosporum is a genus of about 200 species of flowering plants in the family Pittosporaceae. The genus is probably Gondwanan in origin; its present range extends from Australasia, Oceania, eastern Asia and some parts of Africa. Citriobatus can be included here, but might be a distinct genus. They are commonly known as pittosporums or, more ambiguously, cheesewoods.
Hymenosporum is a monotypic genus of trees in the family Pittosporaceae. The sole included species is Hymenosporum flavum, commonly known as native frangipani, found in the rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests of New Guinea, Queensland and New South Wales. Despite its common name, it is not closely related to the frangipani, but is related to the widespread genus Pittosporum.
Neolitsea dealbata, also known as white bolly gum, hairy-leaved bolly gum, or simply bolly gum, is a shrub or small tree in the laurel family Lauraceae which is native to New South Wales and Queensland in Australia.
Pittosporum obcordatum, commonly called heart-leaved kohuhu or heart-leaved kohukohu or kohukohu, is a species of plant in the Pittosporaceae family. It is endemic to New Zealand, and exists both in North Island and South Island.
Calamus australis, commonly known as wait-a-while, hairy mary or lawyer cane, is a plant in the palm family Arecaceae which is endemic to the rainforests of north east Queensland, Australia. Like other species in the genus Calamus, this is a climbing plant with a very long and flexible stem. It uses sharp strong hooks on the fronds and tendrils to attach itself to other vegetation, such as taller established trees, thus gaining support that enables it to grow higher towards the canopy. This species is very similar to C. radicalis, with which it coexists, but is smaller in almost all respects.
Elaeocarpus bancroftii, commonly known as Kuranda quandong, Johnstone River almond, ebony heart, grey nut, or nut tree is a large rainforest tree in the family Elaeocarpaceae which is endemic to Queensland. It has coriaceous leaves, attractive white flowers and relatively large fruit containing an edible kernel.
Atractocarpus chartaceus, commonly known as the narrow-leaved gardenia, is a species of evergreen flowering plant in the coffee family Rubiaceae. It is found in subtropical rainforest of eastern Queensland, Australia, and it is cultivated for its fragrant flowers and colourful fruit.
Pittosporum erioloma grows as a shrub or small tree. It is also known as the Lord Howe Island pittosporum or hedge laurel, though it is not a member of the laurel family.
Acronychia pubescens, commonly known as hairy acronychia or hairy aspen, is a species of tall shrub or small tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It usually has trifoliate leaves, rarely simple leaves, groups of whitish flowers in leaf axils and creamy to yellowish, elliptical to spherical fruit.
Pittosporum lancifolium, known as the narrow-leaved orange thorn or sticky orange thorn, is a shrub or tree growing in eastern Australia. Often found at altitudes above 500 metres above sea level; from Mallanganee National Park in New South Wales in the south to Yarraman in south east Queensland in the north.
Planchonella eerwah is a rare species of Australian rainforest tree in the family Sapotaceae. Common names include shiny-leaved condoo, black plum and wild apple. It is endemic to south eastern Queensland, with a restricted distribution and regarded as endangered.
Atractocarpus hirtus, commonly known as the hairy gardenia or native loquat, is a plant in the coffee family Rubiaceae, a large family of some 6,500 species with a cosmopolitan distribution. This species is endemic to northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Mackinlaya macrosciadea, commonly known as mackinlaya or blue umbrella, is a plant in the carrot, fennel and parsley family Apiaceae, found in the Northern Territory and Queensland, Australia.
Diploglottis harpullioides, commonly known as Babinda tamarind, is a rainforest tree in the lychee and maple family Sapindaceae which is found only in northeast Queensland, Australia.
Xanthophyllum octandrum, commonly known as Macintyre's boxwood, false jitta, yellow boxwood or sovereignwood, is a slow-growing tree in the milkwort family Polygalaceae which has the potential to reach thousands of years of age. It is endemic to coastal northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Alstonia muelleriana is a tree in the dogbane family Apocynaceae which is native to southern Papua New Guinea and northeastern Queensland.
Pittosporum ferrugineum, commonly known as the rusty pittosporum or rusty-leaved pittosporum, is an evergreen plant in the family Pittosporaceae native to Malesia, Papuasia, the Northern Territory and Queensland.
Lasianthus chlorocarpus, commonly known as blue rubi, is a plant in the family Rubiaceae native to parts of Malesia, Papuasia and Australia. It is an evergreen shrub growing up to 2 m high in well developed rainforest.
Polyosma hirsuta, commonly known as hairy polyosma, is a plant in the family Escalloniaceae which is endemic to northeastern Queensland, Australia. It is an evergreen small tree growing up to 10 m (33 ft) high. The leaves may be 6 to 14 cm long and 2 to 5 cm wide, often with toothed margins and each tooth exhibiting a short stiff spine. Most parts of the plant, including the twigs, leaves and fruit, are clothed in fine pale brown hairs.
Ryparosa kurrangii is a rare plant in the family Achariaceae which is endemic to a very small part of the Queensland tropical rain forests. It is a small tree growing under the rainforest canopy, producing its flowers and fruit on the lower part of the trunk. It was previously considered to be a form of the Ryparosa javanica complex of species.
Data related to Pittosporum rubiginosum at Wikispecies
Media related to Pittosporum rubiginosum at Wikimedia Commons