48)+Pittosporum+tobira

=Common Name-= //Pittosporum tobira//
 * Japanese pittosporum**

Family: **Pittosporaceae**

media type="file" key="pitto.mp3" Whole Plant || Leaf || Photo of Bark || Reproductive Part ||
 * [[image:(whole_thang)_0122.jpg width="288" height="237"]]
 * [[image:(bark)Photo0031[1].JPG width="276" height="235"]]

Family characteristics:
Flowering trees with 200 species of trees, shrubs and lianas found in tropical to temperate climates of the Afrotropic, Indomalaya, Oceania, and Australasia ecozones. The flowers of the trees are bisexual and have 5 sepals, 5 stapls and 5 steman. The seeds are surrounded by a glutonis or greasy material that protects it in other cases they are found within berries. The leaves of the trees are sometimes whole and in other species they are toothed. This family has Flowers that have 5 sepals and 5 petals, they also contain seed pods that burst when fully ripened.

Identifying features:
The Pittosporum tobira or the Japanese pittosporum is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that has tear drop like leaves that are dark green on the top of the leaf and light green on the underside. They have white flowers with small bulb like pods that extend from the plant by small steams about 1 inch in length. When in bloom the pods will spill open and reveal red seeds. This shrub blooms during spring usually around the month of March. It has a very bushy and dense tree. The leaves tend to grow in clusters and the branches grow close together. The bark is smooth with only a few grooves and has a rough touch to it but maintains a flowing shape. This shrub can be used as a barrier between two houses or properties, fairly large and able to dwarf many other plants that may grow around it, but if not pruned correctly may cause some problems.

Location/Habitat:
The Japenese pittosporum lives suitably in climates with 8 hardiness which is anywhere from 10 F to above 40 F. It does not require extreme amounts of light but does well in partial shade. The Japenese pittosporum can stand variant levels of acidity in the soil and can live in soil that contains sand, loam and moderate amounts of salt. It can grow in both moist and dry climates; it can also stand the occasional drought. The only thing that this plant may have a problem with pests and disease to which it is very susceptible.

Water/Sun Requirements:
This plant does not require large amounts of water. And this plant can survive in full sun or partial shade

Reproduction:
The Pittosporum tobira has the ability to sexually or asexually reproduce. When the plant reproduces sexually it is usually pollinated from another plant of the same species. An asexual reproduction can be many things either man made or natural but in the case of the Pittosporum tobira it is when one of the roots of the plants branch off and surface to form a new plant. The fruit of the plant is a small spherical pod about one centimeter in diameter, it has a slightly rough green skin. The ideal time for reporduction is warm times like the spring. The flower of this plant is monoecious.

Sources:
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Created by: His Honerable Innis Cormac McComb the 3rd esquire