Pittosporum patulum
| Pittosporum patulum | |
|---|---|
| P. patulum near Lake Ōhau | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Pittosporaceae |
| Genus: | Pittosporum |
| Species: | P. patulum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pittosporum patulum | |
Pittosporum patulum, commonly known as pit-pat, is a plant species endemic to the South Island of New Zealand where it has a restricted distribution ranging from Nelson in the north with occurrences in inland Marlborough down to Wānaka in the south. It is unusual amongst the genus in having deep red and scented flowers.[3]
Description
Pittosporum patulum is a small gynodioecious tree in the family Pittosporaceae, that usually reaches 5 metres (16.4 feet) in height. Similar to the common lancewood and toothed lancewood [4], P. patulum is also a heteroblastic plant, meaning it has distinct juvenile and adult forms. [5]
Juvenile plants have a cryptic coloured single stem growth form with narrow serrated leaves. Adult P. patulum can reach a height of up to 5 metres (16.4 feet). they eventually develop a form with many spreading branches at their tops, resembling a more round-headed tree.[6]
Leaves
Juvenile leaves are usually chocolate-brown to dark-green that are toothed along the margins. These linear formed leaves usually measure 30–60 (1.18– 2.36 in) × 5–8 mm (0.2–0.31 in).[6][5]
The leaves on adult plants are more leathery and broader than juveniles, and measure 40–50 (1.57–1.97 in) × 10–20 mm (0.4–0.79 in). The margins of adult leaves also become less serrated.[6][5]
Trunk
The trunk of P. patulum starts slender in juveniles, becoming stouter in mature adult trees. It also develops pale brown to grey-brown, firm bark, often with leaf scars on branchlets. [3][7]
Flowers
The small 6–8 mm (0.23–0.31 in) dark-red to pink, occasionally yellow flowers are clustered in distinct terminal umbels. The umbels usually consist of between 4 and 10 flowers per cluster.[5]
Habitat
Pittosporum patulum is restricted to sub-alpine sites in canopy gaps in mountain beech forest above 800 metres (2625 ft). The majority of adult plants are located in open and exposed sites such as: avalanche terrain, river margins, on bluffs. It is uncommon and may be threatened by grazing and by alien herbivores.[3]
Conservation
It is listed in the IUCN Red List as Endangered,[1] and on the New Zealand Threat Classification System as Nationally Endangered.[2] In 1999, a recovery plan was approved by the director-general of the Department of Conservation.[8]
Ungulates (hoofed mammals) typically feed on juvenile foliage, and opossums eat both the juvenile and adult foliage as well as the flowers of P. patulum. Rodents feed on the seed dropped beneath adult trees, and insect browsing can deform new growth. [5]
It is occasionally cultivated.[9]
References
- ^ a b de Lange, P.J. (1998). "Pittosporum patulum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998 e.T34899A9892459. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T34899A9892459.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ a b Hitchmough, Rod; Leigh Bull; Pam Cromarty (2007). New Zealand Threat Classification System lists, 2005. Wellington, N.Z: Science & Technical Pub., Department of Conservation. ISBN 0-478-14128-9.
- ^ a b c "Pittosporum patulum". NZ Department of Conservation. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- ^ "Pitpat trees do it tough thanks to being high on the menu". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
- ^ a b c d e "Pittosporum patulum". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
- ^ a b c Pittosporum patulum recovery plan | 1999 - 2009. Biodiversity Recovery Unit, Conservation Sciences Centre, Department of Conservation, Wellington: Department of Conservation. 1999. ISBN 0-478-21843-5.
- ^ "Pittosporum patulum, Pitpat". DigitalNZ. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
- ^ Townsend, A. J (1999). Pittosporum patulum recovery plan, 1999-2009. Threatened species recover plan 28. Wellington, N.Z.: Biodiversity Recovery Unit, Dept. of Conservation. ISBN 978-0-478-21843-5.
- ^ Metcalf, L. J (1991). The cultivation of New Zealand trees & shrubs. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed. ISBN 978-0-7900-0198-2.
Further reading
- A.J. Townsend (1999). "Pittosporum patulum recovery plan, 1999-2009" (PDF). Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
External links
- Pittosporum patulum at the Department of Conservation