About Pittosporum ferrugineum W.T.Aiton
Pittosporum ferrugineum W.T.Aiton, commonly known as rusty-leaved pittosporum, is a shrub or small tree that reaches roughly 10 meters in height. New growth including twigs, leaves, and flowers is densely covered in fine rusty-brown hairs, which is the source of its common name. Mature growth becomes far less hairy over time. Its leaves are dull green, shaped elliptic to narrow-elliptic, measuring 6 to 13 centimeters long and 2 to 5 centimeters wide, and grow from a 1.5 to 2.5 centimeter long petiole. Clusters of flowers form 4 centimeter wide inflorescences that grow from leaf axils, and can appear at any time of year. The fragrant flowers have five petals, measure around 10 millimeters long and 10 millimeters wide, and range in color from white to cream to yellow. The fruit is a dull yellow or orange dehiscent 2-valved capsule, holding up to 16 small red seeds that clump together into a sticky ball. This species is native to Malesia, Papuasia and northern Australia, with confirmed records from Malaysia, Borneo, Sulawesi, the Philippines, the Caroline Islands, Java, Sumatra, the Lesser Sunda Islands, the Maluku Islands, New Guinea, the Bismark Archipelago, the Solomon Islands, Christmas Island, Australia's Northern Territory, and Queensland north of Cooktown. It has been introduced to Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Vietnam. Rusty-leaved pittosporum grows in drier rainforest types including monsoon forest, beach forest, and mangrove forest margins. Fruits of this species are eaten by metallic starlings (Aplonis metallica), and its flowers attract a wide variety of birds and butterflies.
