Weeping Pittosporum - native (Pittosporum angustifolium)

Family: Pittosporaceae (Pittosporum family).

Other names. Formerly Pittosporum phylliraeoides, Native Apricot (from the apricot-coloured fruit).

Native of South-eastern Australia, particularly the mallee regions.

Occurrence: Rare. A small copse was recorded for Lakey's Road, north of Bells Swamp, during roadside vegetation surveys. The copse is no longer there, so this species is now probably extinct locally. The trees were in a row, and were possibly planted. The other vegetation in the area appeared to be indigenous.

Identification:

• it is a small tree
• it has creamy-white, bell-shaped flowers
• the leaves are narrow and drooping
• the fruit resemble tiny apricots in appearance.

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Photos 1: Weeping Pittosporum copse. Inglewood Cemetery. 2: Fruit are apricot coloured. Lalbert.

3: In flower. Horsham wetlands. 4: Pittosporum, Lakeys Road 1991.