Kingdom Plantae Family Pittosporaceae Scientific name Pittosporum eugenioides Rank Species | Order Apiales Genus Pittosporum Higher classification Cheesewood | |
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Similar Cheesewood, Pittosporum tenuifolium, Pittosporum crassifolium, Pseudopanax arboreus, Plagianthus regius | ||
Pittosporum eugenioides, common names lemonwood or tarata, is a species of New Zealand native tree. Growing to 12 m (39 ft) tall by 5 m (16 ft) broad, it is conical when young but more rounded in shape when mature. Its leaves are mottled yellow-green with curly edges and a salient bright midrib, and have a strong lemony smell when crushed. It has highly fragrant clusters of attractive yellow-cream flowers in spring, followed by distinctive black seed capsules. It is found throughout New Zealand's North and South Islands along forest margins and stream banks from sea level to 600 m (1,969 ft). It is New Zealand's largest pittosporum.
The binomial qualifier eugenioides means "resembling Eugenia", a different genus of plants.
The variegated cultivar 'Variegatum' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Traditional uses
Maori traditionally used the gum and crushed leaves and flowers of the tarata for scent, usually mixed with plant oils such as titoki and kohia.
