Weeping pittosporum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Weeping pittosporum |
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| Drawing by Margaret Flockton | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pittosporum
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| Species: |
angustifolium
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
| Synonyms | |
The Weeping Pittosporum (scientific name: Pittosporum angustifolium) is a tough shrub or small tree. It grows all across inland Australia. This plant grows slowly, usually reaching between two and six meters tall. Some special trees can even grow taller than ten meters!
People call this tree by many names. These include weeping pittosporum, butterbush, cattle bush, native apricot, apricot tree, gumbi gumbi (or gumby gumby), cumby cumby, meemeei, poison berry bush, and berrigan. It can handle very dry weather and cold frosts. It can even live in places that get as little as 150 millimeters of rain each year. This strong desert plant can live for over a hundred years!
The Weeping Pittosporum was first described in 1832. This happened in a book called The Botanical Cabinet. Its scientific name was officially confirmed in 2000.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
This tree can grow up to 10 meters (about 33 feet) tall. It has branches that hang down, making it look like it's "weeping." Its leaves are long and thin. They are usually between 4 and 12 centimeters (about 1.5 to 4.7 inches) long.
The Weeping Pittosporum has small, creamy yellow flowers. They are shaped like tubes and smell very nice. These flowers bloom from late winter to mid-spring.
Fruit and Seeds
The tree produces small, round, orange fruits. They look a bit like tiny apricots. Each fruit can be up to 1.4 centimeters (about half an inch) wide. These fruits can stay on the tree for several years! Inside, the seeds are dark red and wrinkled. They are covered in a sticky yellow pulp.
Where Does It Grow?
The Weeping Pittosporum is found in many parts of inland Australia. It grows in different types of environments. These include areas with small, tough trees (called mallee communities). It also grows on flat lands near rivers and on ridges. You can find it in dry woodlands too. It can grow in loamy, clay, or sandy soils. Even though it's widespread, you won't find huge numbers of these trees in one place.
Its hanging branches and thin leaves give it a graceful look. It often reminds people of a willow tree.
Uses and Benefits
The Weeping Pittosporum is a useful plant. Cattle often eat its leaves, which provide good food for them. The wood from this tree can also be used for wood turning.
Traditional Health Uses
People have used parts of this plant for a long time. Extracts from the plant might help with skin problems like eczema and itching. They are also used for internal pains, other skin irritations, and colds. Some people use warmed leaves as a compress. This is said to help new mothers produce milk. The plant also makes a type of chewable gum.
Scientists have studied the Weeping Pittosporum. A research paper from 2011 found that extracts from the plant are not very toxic. They also showed that these extracts can fight against bacteria and fungi. This research supports the traditional uses of the plant by Aboriginal Australians. It also suggests that the plant has good potential for medicine.
