Pittosporum eugenioides

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pittosporum eugenioides
Conservation status
Endangered
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Apiales Family: Pittosporaceae Genus: Pittosporum Species: P. eugenioides
Binomial name
Pittosporum eugenioides

Pittosporum eugenioides is a New Zealand native tree also referred to as "lemonwood" or "tarata".

Tarata is a tree which grows up to 12 metres tall with a strong lemony smell. It has attractive showy flowers in October, followed by distinctive black seed capsules. It is found throughout New Zealand along forest margins and on stream banks from sea level to 600 metres. It is New Zealand's largest Pittosporum.[1]

[edit] Traditional uses

Maori traditionally used the gum and crushed leaves and flowers of the tarata for scent. [2]