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.
| Hairy red pittosporum | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Pittosporaceae |
| Genus: | Pittosporum |
| Species: | P. rubiginosum
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| Binomial name | |
| Pittosporum rubiginosum | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
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Description edit
The hairy red pittosporum is a spindly shrub with a variable appearance as it grows. It usually reaches around 2–3 m (6 ft 7 in – 9 ft 10 in) in height, however it can (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 (0.98 by 0.51 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 (0.79 in) long — the sepals are up to 9 mm (0.35 in) long, petals about 16 mm (0.63 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]
Taxonomy edit
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]
Etymology edit
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]
Distribution and habitat edit
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]
Ecology edit
The fruit of the hairy red Pittosporum are eaten by cassowaries (Casuarius casuarius), giant white-tailed rats (Uromys caudimaculatus), and other native rodents.[6]
Conservation edit
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).
Gallery edit
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Foliage -
New growth -
Inflorescence -
Habit -
Hairy peduncle -
Dehiscing fruit
References edit
- ^ a b "Species profile—Pittosporum rubiginosum". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ "Pittosporum rubiginosum". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Pittosporum rubiginosum A.Cunn". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Pittosporum rubiginosum". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Cayzer, Lindy W. (2022). Kodela, P.G. (ed.). "Pittosporum rubiginosum". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Cooper, Wendy; Cooper, William T. (June 2004). Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia: Nokomis Editions. p. 402. ISBN 9780958174213.
- ^ Cunningham, A. (1840). "Floræ insularum Novæ Zelandiæ precursor; or a specimen of the Botany of the Islands of New Zealand". Annals of Natural History. 4: 108. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ "Pittosporum callicarpeum Domin". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
External links edit
Data related to Pittosporum rubiginosum at Wikispecies
Media related to Pittosporum rubiginosum at Wikimedia Commons- View a map of historical sightings of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
- View observations of this species on iNaturalist
- View images of this species on Flickriver
