Common Name:

General Information

Pittosporum balansae is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 3 metres tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

Although no mention has been found for this species, some members of this genus contain saponins. Saponins are found in many foods, such as some beans, and although they are fairly toxic to people they are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problem. They are also broken down if the food is thoroughly cooked for a long time. Saponins are much more toxic to some 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[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan), northern Myanmar, Vietnam.

Habitat

Forests, thickets, river banks and stream sides; at elevations from 1,500 - 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pittosporum species generally grow best in a sunny position, but tolerate light shade. They succeed in most well-drained soils[, ], including dry soils, preferably in a sunny position[] but also succeeding in light shade[].
Very amenable to pruning, plants can be cut right back into old wood if required[].
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

Fruit[]. No more details are given.

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

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[].