Common Name: Cheesewood

General Information

Pittosporum undulatum is an evergreen tree with a rounded canopy; it can grow up to 13 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials. It has been recommended fr cultivation as a source of essential oils and is grown as an ornamental, where it is often used as a hedge.
Pittosporum undulatum has been introduced as a windbreak and ornamental plant to many areas outside its native range. The plant presents its seeds attractively packaged and cohering for easy bird dispersal and seed production is enormous on female trees. This, coupled with a vigorous rhizomatous root system that survives all but the most intense wild fires, and a habit of holding the large leaves horizontally (hence blocking light from other seedlings), ensures very rapid colonisation, particularly on disturbed sites. It has often escaped from cultivation and become established, and is considered to be an invasive weed in several areas including California, the Azores and southeastern Australia[]. Restricting horticultural plantings to male plants is not a solution as most of these plants also produce occasional fruits and all forms are self-compatible[].

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 - southeastern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.

Habitat

Sheltered situations and rainforests[, ].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Pollinators	Lepidoptera
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pittosporum undulatum is native to the temperate and subtropical climate of eastern Australia. It is not very cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c[, ].
Succeeds in most well-drained soils of reasonably good quality in full sun or light shade[, ]. Succeeds in dry soils. Tolerates maritime exposure[].
Very amenable to pruning, plants can be cut right back into old wood if required[].
The flowers have a sweet, powerfully scented perfume at night and are pollinated by night-flying moths[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
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.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A gum-resin obtained from the trunk is of potential use in medicine[].
The gum has been applied topically to aid the healing of wounds[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is very amenable to trimming and can be grown to form a windbreak hedge, succeeding even in areas of maritime exposure[].

Other Uses

A gum-resin is obtained from wounds made to the bark of the tree[]. It is viscid, easily softens in the heat of the sun, and possesses a powerful odour of a turpentiny character[].
An essential oil is obtained from the plant[]. (Part not specified, but either the flowers or the gum-resin)

The white to white-brown wood is hard and very close-grained. Generally of small dimensions, it is of value for turning and probably for engraving, and is highly favoured for use in the manufacture of golf clubs[, , ].

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[].