Pittosporum eugenioides

Tarata
Lemonwood leaves
Scientific classification Edit this 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
Lemonwood in snow

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]

  1. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  2. ^ a b c "Joanna Orwin. 'Shrubs and small trees of the forest - Pittosporums', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Pittosporum eugeniodes (Lemonwood)". T.E.R:R.A.I.N - Taranaki Educational Resource: Research, Analysis and Information Network. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  4. ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  5. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Pittosporum eugenioides 'Variegatum'". Archived from the original on 23 April 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  6. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 79. Retrieved 2 May 2018.