Species
Pittosporum ralphii
Etymology
Pittosporum: pitch seed
Common Name(s)
Karo
Current Conservation Status
2012 - Not Threatened
Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB
Previous Conservation Status
2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened
Authority
Pittosporum ralphii Kirk
Family
Pittosporaceae
Brief Description
Tree bearing greyish-green wavy leaves and bunches of dark red flowers and 1.5cm wide fruit that splits into three to show the black sticky seeds inhabiting the eastern North Island and to Wanganui. New growth covered in whiteish fuzz. Leaves 7.5-12.5cm long.
Flora Category
Vascular - Native
PITRAL
The
National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs
Flower Colours
Red / Pink
Threats
Not Threatened
Chromosome No.
2n = 24
Endemic Taxon
Yes
Endemic Genus
No
Endemic Family
No
Cultural Use/Importance
The name P. ralphii Kirk seems to be a later synonym for P. crassifolium Banks et Sol. ex A.Cunn. If correct this means that the plant described here is apparently without a valid name. Further research into this matter is needed.
This page last updated on 6 Dec 2014