Pittosporum tenuifolium
kohuhu
New Zealand
Pittosporum tenuifolium fruit, leaf. From An Illustrated Manual of Pacific Coast Trees, Howard E. McMinn & Evelyn Maino
This small tree is most often clipped as a hedge, but a specimen in tree form is on the north side of Bechtel International Center. Perhaps the nicest plant ing is the perimeter hedge in Branner Hall’s front entry.
The thin, glossy 1- to 2-inch leaves have wavy edges. New growth is borne on shiny dark twigs, and the spring flowers are unusual in being almost black.
Illustrations: fruit & leaves.
Name derivation: Pittosporum – Greek pitta (pitch) and spora (seed), referring to the sticky seed coating; tenuifolium – with thin leaves.
About this Entry: The main text of this entry is from the book Trees of Stanford and Environs, by Ronald Bracewell, published 2005.
