Pittosporum kirkii

Pittosporum kirkii is an evergreen perennial shrub in the family Pittosporaceae, endemic to the northern half of the North Island (and some of its offshore islands) of New Zealand. It is usually epiphytic (meaning it often grows on other trees). P. kirkii has thick and leathery leaves that are widest towards the tip and with yellowish-green coloured capsules. Its leaves are 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) long and 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) wide. Flowering occurs from October to December; the flowers are yellow. Fruiting occurs from January to May, with a 2.5–4 cm (0.98–1.57 in) long fruit, which splits into two showing its black seeds inside a yellow pith. P. kirkii grows to 1–5 m (3 ft 3 in – 16 ft 5 in) in height with a trunk up to 10 cm (3.9 in) in diameter. It is usually epiphytic, though some individuals grow by themselves; rarely, they grow on rock surfaces. Its trunk holds densely arranged light green-brown coloured branches, with reddish-to-purple coloured branchlets. Its petioles are purple-reddish in colour and are 0.1–0.2 mm broad and short, 0.3–1.6 mm in length. The leaves are egg to oval shaped and are 4–12 cm (1.6–4.7 in) long and 0.7–3.2 cm (0.28–1.26 in) broad. Its leaves are also generally coriaceous and are dark to pale green in colour. Its inflorescences (flower spikes) are pedicellate, complete and pentamerous (except for the gynoecia). …

Pittosporum kirkii is endemic to New Zealand and has a known restricted geographical range in the North Island, extending from Karikari Peninsula and Mangōnui in the Northland Region and south of the Whanganui River (in the Manawatū-Whanganui region) and west to Mount Taranaki. P. kirkii is also found on some of the North Island's offshore islands such as Great Barrier Island and Little Barrier Island. P. kirkii has an estimated mean altitude range of 50–1,116 m (164–3,661 ft) above sea level. Pittosporum kirkii is naturally not present in the Taupō Volcanic Zone, because the environmental conditions are unfavourable; though, the vegetation composition has been significantly impacted by the extensive ecological disturbance brought about by the 186 AD eruption in Taupō. P. kirkii's natural habitat is in dense forest usually growing near (or on) other plants in suitable sites with limited browsing animals, it can also be observed to be found on visible rock and rubble slopes.

It is unclear what the specific pollinators of P. kirkii are, though the flowers are likely entomophilous, as they have unspecialised structures and are small in size. In the cross-pollination of its flowers, flies likely dominant in the area, because as they were observed on the leaves of P. kirkii individuals. The fruit of P. kirkii and other endemic Pittosporum species, are consumed by introduced brushtail possums (an invasive species in New Zealand).

The etymology of the name of the genus derives from Latin, Pittosporum, translates to English as 'pitch seed'. The specific epithet, kirkii, is named in honour of the New Zealand botanist, Thomas Kirk. P. kirkii is also commonly referred to as "Kirk's kōhūhū" and the "thick-leaved kohukohu".