Pittosporum crassifolium
Karo

Uses

Toxic parts

This plant contains saponins^[1]. 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[K].

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Pittosporum crassifolium.

Material uses

A dark blue dye is obtained from the seeds^[2].

The plant is a potential source of saponins. Saponins can be used to as a soap and, because of their bitter taste, they also have potential as a bird deterrent by spraying them over the plants. The bitterness can be easily removed by washing (or by the next rainfall!). Very tolerant of pruning and maritime exposure, this plant can be grown as a protective hedge by the coast in mild maritime areas^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]. The plant has an extensive root system and can be used for binding sandy soils, dunes etc^[1].

Wood - very tough. Used for inlay^[7]^[8].

Unknown part

Dye

Soap

Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Pittosporum crassifolium.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Hedge

Earth stabiliser

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow when ripe in the autumn or in late winter in a warm greenhouse^[9]^[10]. 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^[9]. Consider giving them some protection from the cold during their first winter outdoors.

Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 7cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Poor to fair percentage^[9].

Basal ripewood cuttings late autumn in a cold frame^[10].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Pittosporum crassifolium. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.

Cultivation

Succeeds in any well-drained soil^[11]^[10], including dry soils, preferably in a sunny position^[11] but also succeeding in light shade^[10]. Plants are very resistant to maritime exposure^[3]^[4]^[6]^[10].

This species is not very cold-hardy in Britain, succeeding outdoors only in the milder areas of the country^[3]. Plants grow very well on the Scilly Isles but have not been proved on the mainland^[4].Other reports say that it grows well in south-western England^[3]^[5]. Very amenable to pruning, plants can be cut right back into old wood if required^[10]. The flowers are sweetly scented, they are borne in terminal clusters of either up to 10 males or up to 5 females^[12]. Plants only flower freely in mild areas of the country^[12]. The species in this genus are very likely to hybridize with other members of the genus^[10]. 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^[10].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Pittosporum crassifolium. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Pittosporum crassifolium.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

References

? ^1.0^1.1^1.2 Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-558229-2 (1991-00-00)
? ^2.0^2.1 Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden. ()
? ^3.0^3.1^3.2^3.3^3.4^3.5 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
? ^4.0^4.1^4.2^4.3 Shepherd. F.W. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society. ISBN 0900629649 (1974-00-00)
? ^5.0^5.1^5.2 Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties. ()
? ^6.0^6.1^6.2 Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1984-00-00)
? ^7.0^7.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
? ^8.0^8.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
? ^9.0^9.1^9.2 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
? ^10.0^10.1^10.2^10.3^10.4^10.5^10.6^10.7^10.8 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
? ^11.0^11.1 Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 (1992-00-00)
? ^12.0^12.1 Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins ISBN 0-00-219220-0 (1983-00-00)
? Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. (1961-00-00)

Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-17" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

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[PFAFimport-153-1] ? ^1.0^1.1^1.2 Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-558229-2 (1991-00-00)

[PFAFimport-169-2] ? ^2.0^2.1 Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden. ()

[PFAFimport-11-3] ? ^3.0^3.1^3.2^3.3^3.4^3.5 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)

[PFAFimport-29-4] ? ^4.0^4.1^4.2^4.3 Shepherd. F.W. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society. ISBN 0900629649 (1974-00-00)

[PFAFimport-49-5] ? ^5.0^5.1^5.2 Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties. ()

[PFAFimport-75-6] ? ^6.0^6.1^6.2 Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1984-00-00)

[PFAFimport-46-7] ? ^7.0^7.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)

[PFAFimport-61-8] ? ^8.0^8.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)

[PFAFimport-78-9] ? ^9.0^9.1^9.2 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)

[PFAFimport-200-10] ? ^10.0^10.1^10.2^10.3^10.4^10.5^10.6^10.7^10.8 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

[PFAFimport-182-11] ? ^11.0^11.1 Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 (1992-00-00)

[PFAFimport-219-12] ? ^12.0^12.1 Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins ISBN 0-00-219220-0 (1983-00-00)

[PFAFimport-44-13] ? Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. (1961-00-00)

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Article is incomplete	Yes +
Article requires citations	No +
Article requires cleanup	Yes +
Belongs to family	Pittosporaceae +
Belongs to genus	Pittosporum +
Functions as	Hedge + and Earth stabiliser +
Has common name	Karo +
Has drought tolerance	Intolerant +
Has environmental tolerance	Maritime exposure + and High wind +
Has fertility type	Self fertile +
Has flowers of type	Monoecious +
Has hardiness zone	9 +
Has image	Pittosporum crassifolium1.jpg +
Has lifecycle type	Perennial +
Has material part	Unknown part +
Has material use	Dye +, Soap + and Wood +
Has mature height	5 +
Has mature width	3 +
Has primary image	Pittosporum crassifolium1.jpg +
Has search name	pittosporum crassifolium + and x +
Has shade tolerance	Light shade +
Has soil ph preference	Acid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teloamyture preference	Loamy +
Has soil tesandyture preference	Sandy +
Has soil water retention preference	Well drained +
Has sun preference	Full sun +
Has taxonomy name	Pittosporum crassifolium +
Has water requirements	moderate +
Is deciduous or evergreen	Evergreen +
Is herbaceous or woody	Woody +
Is taxonomy type	Species +
Tolerates maritime exposure	Yes +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soil	No +
Tolerates wind	Yes +
Uses mature size measurement unit	Meters +