(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Pittosporaceae
Genus: Pittosporum
Species: P. eugenioides
Scientific name: Pittosporum eugenioides,
Common name: Lemonwood, Tarata

Whilst young a Pittosporum eugenioides has a conical shape that broadens and spreads with age to 20m in height, the largest NZ Pittosporum. The trunk of 60cm is encased in the bark. The small yellow flowers which appear from October to December grow in terminal clusters and have a pleasant smell. The leaves are yellow-green with undulating margins and a lemon scent can be smelt if crushed. Naturally occurring throughout NZ from sea level to 600m.

The Maori used the gum from the bark in complex scent formula along with parts of other plants.

Photographed in flower at Otari-Wilton's Bush Reserve Wellington. October.
Pittosporium eugenioides lemonwood tarata-002.JPG

Lemonwood flowers 2 .JPG

A stand of very large Pittosporum eugenioides at Otari-Wilton's Bush Reserve Wellington.Lemonwood Tarata Pittosporum eugeniodes-001.JPG

A small tree

Pittosporum eugenioides lemonwood-a-1.JPG
Pittosporum eugenioides male flowers early OctoberPittosporum eugenioides lemonwood-a.JPG

Male flowers with long stamens and narrow petals. The female flowers have much thicker petals.
Male flowers Pittosporum eugeniodes lemonwood-.JPG

Close up of the male flower.
Pittosporum eugeniodes Lemonwood -001.JPG

Pittosporum eugeniodes flowers Lemonwood flowers-1.JPG

The surface of a leafPittosporum eugenioides Tarata Lemonwood 2 .JPG

The undersurface of a leafPittosporum eugenioides Tarata Lemonwood.-001.JPG

Pittosporum eugenioides fruit late OctoberPittosporum eugenioides lemonwood.JPG

[http://ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info/image_files/0000/0001/4099/Pittosporum_eugenioides_berries__lemonwood-3.JPG Pittosporum eugenioides berries lemonwood-3.JPG
]
Mature trunk.
Trunk of Pittosporium eugenioides Lemonwood.JPG

A mature branchTrunk of Pittosporium eugenioides Lemonwood-001.JPG

Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/