Pittosporaceae

Pittosporum undulatum

Common Names: Sweet pittosporum

Plant Form: Large evergreen shrub or tree. Size: Up to 25 m tall. Stem: Smooth light grey to brownish coloured bark, new stems green. Leaves: On stalks, smooth and glossy green, elongated elliptical, with wavy edges. Flowers: Small creamy white flowers, up to 2 cm diameter, with 5 petals which curve backwards, in clusters, of 4-5. Fruit and Seeds: Hard, round, or slightly flattened capsules, 1.5 cm diameter, starting green but turning orange then splitting open to release 20-30 seeds when ripe. Habitat: Rainforests, gardens, grasslands, roadsides, urban woodlands, riparian areas. Distinguishing Features: Has smooth-edged leaves unlike Diamond-leaved pittosporum (Auranticarpa rhombifolia). Brush Muttonwood (Myrsine howittiana) has smaller purplish berries. Can hybridise with Banyalla (Pittosporum bicolor) producing very close lookalikes. Impacts: Competes for soil nutrients, decreases biodiversity.