Pittosporum eugenioides
| Tarata | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Pittosporaceae |
| Genus: | Pittosporum |
| Species: | P. eugenioides
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pittosporum eugenioides A.Cunn., 1840
| |
Pittosporum eugenioides, common names lemonwood or tarata, is a species of New Zealand native evergreen tree. Growing to 12 m (39 ft) tall by 5 m (16 ft) broad, it is conical when young but more rounded in shape when mature.[1] Its leaves are mottled yellow-green with curly edges and a salient bright midrib, and have a strong lemony smell when crushed.[2] It has highly fragrant clusters of attractive yellow-cream flowers in spring, followed by distinctive black seed capsules.[2] It is found throughout New Zealand's North and South Islands along forest margins and stream banks from sea level to 600 m (1,969 ft).[2] It is New Zealand's largest Pittosporum.[3]
The binomial qualifier eugenioides means "resembling Eugenia", a different genus of plants.[4]
The variegated cultivar 'Variegatum' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5][6]
Life cycle/Phenology
Pittosporum eugenioides starts out as a small compact tree, as it matures it becomes a tall branched tree. The lemonwood flowers between October and December. The following year after flowering the capsules will open. The capsules open the next year because the fruit of the lemonwood takes between 12 to 14 months to ripen. There is unripe fruit and ripe fruit present on the lemonwood at the same time, this is the current season’s fruit and last season’s fruit.[7] Lemonwood is pollinated by both insetcs and birds, the seeds are bird dispersed.[8] The seeds of the lemonwood germinate quickly and will become seedlings within a month.[9]
Diet and foraging
The viability of the lemonwood’s seeds is affected by moisture levels of the soil. If the moisture levels are too high the seed is likely to become unviable.[10] The lemonwood like other pittosporums is somewhat drought resistant [9] therefore rainfall is not a major factor in the lemonwoods survival. P. eugenioides is relatively simple to look after from season at home. It grows well, thriving off regular watering intervals during Summer. It enjoys a feed with gerneral tree and shrub fertiliser twice a year during Spring and Summer while it is grwoing. Responds well to pruning also, which will assure survival in the forest too if disturbed.[11]
Predators, Parasites, and Diseases
The pittosporum flower weevil (Aneuma rubricate) is a parasite that feeds on the underside of the lemonwood leaves. This parasite does not kill the lemonwood it just damages the leaves through its feeding. The holes the weevils eat in the leaves are visible because the leaf reacts causing a dark brownie purple ring to form around the hole. Pittosporum eugenioides is only a host to the adult weevil as the larvae are hosted on different pittosporums.[12] Common garden pests can cover this plant, such as Aphids and blister scale (Psyilids). Both can easily be controlled and treated with an insecticide. The best time to spray as a preventative is February, then again in October.[13]
Traditional uses
Maori traditionally used the gum and crushed leaves and flowers of the tarata for scent,[14] usually mixed with plant oils such as titoki and kohia.[2]
References
- ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
- ^ a b c d "Joanna Orwin. 'Shrubs and small trees of the forest - Pittosporums', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Retrieved 26 March 2014.
- ^ "Pittosporum eugeniodes (Lemonwood)". T.E.R:R.A.I.N - Taranaki Educational Resource: Research, Analysis and Information Network. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Pittosporum eugenioides 'Variegatum'". Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 79. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ Salmon, J.T (1990). The Native Trees of New Zealand. Auckland: Heinemann Reed.
- ^ Dawson, J; Lucas, R (2012). Field Guide to New Zealand's Native Trees. Nelson: Craig Potten.
- ^ a b Fisher, M; Forde, M (1994). Growing New Zealand Plants, Shrubs & Trees. Auckland: David Bateman Ltd.
- ^ Burrows, C (1996). "Germination behaviour of the seeds of seven New Zealand woody plant species". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 34 (3). doi:10.1080/0028825X.1996.10410700.
- ^ Hutchinson, C (1991). The Art of Gardening. New Plymouth: Duncan & Davd Nurseries Ltd.
- ^ "Pittosporum flower weevil - Aneuma rubricale". Landcareresearch. 2017.
- ^ Yates (2013). Yates Garden Guide. New Zealand: HarperCollins Publishers NZ Limited.
- ^ "Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 1868-1961". National Library of New Zealand. 1908. p. 234.