Wallaby apple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wallaby apple |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Pittosporaceae |
| Genus: | Pittosporum |
| Species: |
P. spinescens
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| Binomial name | |
| Pittosporum spinescens (F.Muell.) L.W.Cayzer, Crisp & I.Telford
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| Synonyms | |
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Pittosporum spinescens is a type of bush found in the forests of Northern and Eastern Australia and New Guinea. It is also known by fun names like wallaby apple, orange thorn, or thorn orange.
This plant can grow quite tall, up to 7 meters (about 23 feet). It has small leaves that grow in groups on short branches. These branches often end in a sharp point, like a thorn.
About the Wallaby Apple
The Pittosporum spinescens plant produces small fruits. These fruits are round, about 2 to 3 centimeters (1 inch) across. They are also edible, meaning you can eat them!
Where It Grows
You can find the wallaby apple growing naturally in different types of forests. It likes woodlands and dry rainforests. These are places with many trees and sometimes a lot of rain, but also dry periods.
Spotting the Difference
The wallaby apple looks a lot like another plant called Pittosporum multiflorum. But there's an easy way to tell them apart! The wallaby apple has smooth edges on its leaves. The Pittosporum multiflorum has tiny teeth along the edges of its leaves.
Images for kids
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Pittosporum spinescens: Notice the smaller branches ending in sharp points.
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An unripe fruit of the Pittosporum spinescens.
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The flowers of Pittosporum spinescens.
 | Delilah Pierce |
 | Gordon Parks |
 | Augusta Savage |
 | Charles Ethan Porter |
