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NZ Plants

Pittosporum kirkii - Kirk's kōhūhū, thick-leaved kōhūhū

Family: Pittosporaceae

Pittosporum kirkii is a small epiphytic or ground-dwelling shrub with stout purple-brown branches. The thick and fleshy leaves are crowded towards ends of branches and arranged in whorls. Named after Thomas Kirk (1828-1898), English nurseryman, surveyor, museum curator and botanist who immigrated to New Zealand in 1863.
An endemic species found from the northern half of the North Island.
 

Vegetative characteristics

Reproductive characteristics

Plant form: shrub up to 4 m

Arrangement of parts: symmetric

 

Flower size: 8-12 mm diam.

Leaf form: undivided,  narrow –obovate (egg-shaped)

Sepals: 5

Leaf size: 50-100 long x 20-30  mm wide

Petals: 5, red, yellow

Leaf arrangement: 3-5 in a whorl

Sexuality: unisexual on different plants or bisexual

Leaf attachment:

Stamens: 5

Leaf margin: smooth

Ovary: above petals

Leaf surface: sparse hairs

Fruit: dry

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