''Pittosporum multiflorum'', known as the orange thorn, is a shrub growing in eastern Australia. The dense foliage provides a habitat for small birds and animals. It grows on shales or volcanic soils, from

Eden, New South Wales Eden is a coastal town in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The town is south of the state capital Sydney and is the most southerly town in New South Wales, located between Nullica Bay to the south and Calle Calle Bay, the ...

north to

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

, usually in or near rainforest areas.

Description

''Pittosporum multiflorum'' grows from one to three metres in height. Thickly branched with small spines. Leaves almost circular, 3 to 12 mm long, practically without leaf stalks. Mostly toothed, through rarely entire. Flowering occurs in spring or summer. The orange fruit often persists on the plant. Regeneration from fresh seed is slow but fairly reliable. The plant is very similar to the closely related '' Pittosporum spinescens'', but is readily distinguished by its toothed leaf margins. The 1889 book 'The Useful Native Plants of Australia records that common names included "Native Orange" and "Orange Thorn" and that "The fruit is an orange berry with a leathery skin, about one inch and a half in diameter. The seeds are large. It is eaten by the aboriginals ic."

Taxonomy

It was first described in 1832 as ''Citriobatus multiflorus'' by Allan Cunningham, and was transferred to the genus, ''

Pittosporum ''Pittosporum'' ( or ) is a genus of about 200 species of flowering plants in the family Pittosporaceae. The genus is probably Gondwanan in origin; its present range extends from Australasia, Oceania, eastern Asia and some parts of Africa. ''Cit ...

'', by Lindy Cayzer,

Michael Crisp Michael Douglas Crisp (born 1950) is an emeritus professor in the Research School of Biology at the Australian National University located in Canberra. In 1976 he gained a PhD from the University of Adelaide, studying long-term vegetation chan ...

and Ian Telford in 2000.

References

Apiales of Australia Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland multiflorum Taxa named by Allan Cunningham (botanist) Plants described in 1832 {{Australia-asterid-stub