There has been considerable confusion in the past over this taxon. For a long while the name used for it was Pittosporum phillyraeoides (DC.) Benth., but that taxon is now recognized as a closely-related species restricted to Western Australia. Pittosporum angustifolium, as treated here, is a widespread species found in all mainland States of Australia[].

Common Name: Weeping Pittosporum

General Information

Pittosporum angustifolium is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a thick, fissured bark that is fibrous below; it can grow up to 15 metres tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Known Hazards

This plant contains saponins[, ].
Although poisonous, saponins also have a range of medicinal applications and many saponin-rich plants are used in herbalism (particularly as emetics, expectorants and febrifuges) or as sources of raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. Saponins are also found in a number of common foods, such as many beans.
Saponins have a quite bitter flavour and are in general poorly absorbed by the human body, so most pass through without harm. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of raw foods that contain saponins.
Saponins are much more toxic to many cold-blooded creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish and make them easy to catch[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria.

Habitat

Found particularly in open eucalypt woodlands and mallee and moister areas near inland lakes and drainage lines on sandy soils in more arid zones[]. Dry land away from the coast[]. Often in extremely dry areas[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	6.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pittosporum angustifolium is native to the semi-arid and arid regions of Australia, being found from the warm temperate zone to the tropics. It is not very cold-hardy, tolerating short periods with temperatures down to about -5°c when it is dormant[]. Plants succeed outdoors in the southwest of England, though they need greenhouse protection in other parts of the country[].
Requires a well-drained light loamy soil, succeeding in very dry soils and also in somewhat alkaline conditions[, , ]. Requires a sunny position[]. Plants tolerate much wetter conditions in cultivation than they experience in their native habitat[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
A slow growing plant[].
Very amenable to pruning, plants can be cut right back into old wood if required[].
The flowers are strongly fragrant[].
Although flowers usually appear to be hermaphrodite, many species of Pittosporum are functionally dioecious, with individual specimens bearing mainly or totally flowers of one sex only. Even so, occasional functionally hermaphrodite flowers will appear and, in at least some species, these flowers can be self-compatible and produce fertile seed even in the absence of any other plants of that species[].
The species in this genus are also very likely to hybridize with other members of the genus[]. When growing a species from seed it is important to ensure that the seed either comes from a known wild source, or from isolated specimens in cultivation.
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Seed - dried and ground into a powder[, , , ]. Very bitter[, , ].

A good edible gum is obtained from this plant[, ]. It oozes from wounded branches[].

Medicinal

The Australian aborigines soaked the seeds and the pulp of the fruit in water and used the bitter infusion internally as a treatment for pains and sprains[].

An infusion of the seeds, fruit pulp, leaves or wood is taken internally for the relief of pain and cramps[, ].

A decoction of the fruits can be drunk and also applied topically as a treatment for eczema and pruritis[].
Used for colds and as a lactagogue[] (this report suggests it is referring to a decoction of the fruits, but is not specific[]).

The seeds are ground into a powder and used as a poultice[]

A compress of the warm leaves is reputed to be used to induce milk flow for new mothers[].

This plant should not be taken internally too frequently, since the haemolytic saponin present may prove injurious[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant responds well to trimming and can be grown as a hedge and windbreak[].

Other Uses

The plant contains saponins. These have the potential to be used as soap or as a bird repellent. Since they are very bitter they can be sprayed over plants that you do not want the birds to eat. The saponins are easily removed by washing or the next rain shower.

The tree is said to yield a gum that is somewhat similar to gum arable (obtained from Acacia and Senegalia species), and even superior to it[].

The light-coloured wood is close grained, very hard. Generally of too small a dimension for commercial use, but it is used for turnery, cabinet making, engraving etc[154. 1685].

Propagation

Seed - sow when ripe in the autumn or in late winter in a warm greenhouse[, ]. The seed usually germinates freely. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, move the plants to a cold frame as soon as they are established and plant out late in the following spring[]. Consider giving them some protection from the cold during their first winter outdoors.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 7cm with a heel, mid summer in a frame. Poor to fair percentage[].
Basal ripewood cuttings late autumn in a cold frame[].