''Pittosporum tobira'' is a species of sweet-smelling flowering plant in the pittosporum
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Pittosporaceae known by several common names, including Australian laurel, Japanese pittosporum, mock orange and Japanese cheesewood. It is
native
Native may refer to:
People
* Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth
* Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory
** Native Americans (disambiguation)
In arts and entert ...
to Japan (south of Kanto), China, Taiwan, and Korea, but it is used throughout the world as an
ornamental plant
Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that i ...
in landscaping and as
cut foliage.
Description
![돈나무 열매](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/%EB%8F%88%EB%82%98%EB%AC%B4_%EC%97%B4%EB%A7%A4.JPG)
It is an evergreen
shrub
A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...
which can reach tall by broad, and can become treelike. It can also be trimmed into a
hedge
A hedge or hedgerow is a line of closely spaced shrubs and sometimes trees, planted and trained to form a barrier or to mark the boundary of an area, such as between neighbouring properties. Hedges that are used to separate a road from adjoini ...
. The leaves are oval in shape with edges that curl under and measure up to in length. They are leathery, hairless, and darker and shinier on the upper surfaces. The
inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...
is a cluster of fragrant flowers occurring at the ends of branches. The flower has five white petals each about a centimetre long. The fruit is a hairy, woody capsule about 1 cm wide divided into three valves. Inside are black seeds in a bed of resinous pulp.
Distribution
It is native to parts of Eastern Asia but has been introduced as an ornamental plant in many parts of the world. In China, it is found in the
Fujian
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...
province and has been introduced in several others. In Japan, it is found in
Honshu
, historically called , is the largest and most populous island of Japan. It is located south of Hokkaidō across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyūshū across the Kanmon Straits. The island separ ...
and the islands of
Kyushu
is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surroun ...
,
Shikoku
is the smallest of the four main islands of Japan. It is long and between wide. It has a population of 3.8 million (, 3.1%). It is south of Honshu and northeast of Kyushu. Shikoku's ancient names include ''Iyo-no-futana-shima'' (), '' ...
, as well as the
Ryukyu Islands
The , also known as the or the , are a chain of Japanese islands that stretch southwest from Kyushu to Taiwan: the Ōsumi, Tokara, Amami, Okinawa, and Sakishima Islands (further divided into the Miyako and Yaeyama Islands), with Yonaguni ...
. It is also found in South Korea and northern Taiwan. It has been introduced to parts of the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, and may be found in
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
,
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
,
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
, and
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
.
It grows in forests, limestone areas, slopes, sandy seashores, and roadsides, usually to 1800 m sea level.
Taxonomy and phylogeny
''P. tobira'' is one of over 200 species of 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. '' Ci ...
'' which also includes ''
kōhūhū
''Pittosporum tenuifolium'' is a small evergreen tree endemic to New Zealand – up to – commonly known as and black matipo, and by other Māori names and . Its small, very dark, reddish-purple flowers generally go unnoticed, and are scented ...
'' and ''
tarata''. Phylogenetic research suggests ''
P. japonicum'' , ''
P. glabratum'' , ''
P. illicioides'', and ''
P. balfouri'' are closely related.
Names and Etymology
The binomial qualifier ''tobira'' derives from the Japanese name for the plant. The genus name ''Pittosporum'' derives from the Greek substantives ' (meaning "pitch") and (meaning "seed") in reference to the resinous substance that surrounds the seed.
In Japan and China, where it is native to, it is known as (トベラ in Japanese) and (海桐花属 in Chinese). Its Japanese name, , comes from "" which roughly translates to "door tree". This is because the plant emits a foul odour when leaves or branches are cut and so it was hung up in doorways during
Setsubun
is the day before the beginning of spring in the old calendar in Japan. The name literally means 'seasonal division', referring to the day just before the first day of spring in the traditional calendar, known as ; though previously referri ...
along with the heads of
sardines
"Sardine" and "pilchard" are common names for various species of small, oily forage fish in the herring family Clupeidae. The term "sardine" was first used in English during the early 15th century, a folk etymology says it comes from the I ...
.
In English, it is known as Japanese pittosporum, mock orange, Australian-laurel, and Japanese cheesewood. In German it is also known as ("Chinese sticky seed") or (Pech = pitch,tar, Same = seed). In Swedish it is called ("glossy shrubs"). In Brazilian Portuguese, it is known as lágrima-sabéia ("teardrop"), pau-de-incenso ("incense stick"), or pitósporo-japonês.
Chemistry
Although not typically considered edible, the nutritional composition of ''P. tobira'' seeds have been analyzed. The seeds are mostly carbohydrates (71.3%) while their low fat content (5.6%) means it cannot be classified as an oily seed. The high ash content may suggest the presence of considerable amounts of inorganic nutrients in this plant.
The total phenolic content was 102.7 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram (GAE/g) while the total flavonoid content was 31.62 mg of catechin equivalent per gram dry weight basis (CAE/g DW).
An HPLC analysis revealed the presence of five phenolic acids with
caffeic acid
Caffeic acid is an organic compound that is classified as a hydroxycinnamic acid. This yellow solid consists of both phenolic and acrylic functional groups. It is found in all plants because it is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of lignin, one ...
being the most numerous (38.57 mg/g). The next most common phenolic acids were ferulic acid (20.07 mg/g), p-coumaric acid (12.85 mg/g), cinnamic acid (5.14 mg/g), and gallic acid (1.03 mg/g). Nineteen components were found to makeup 89.5% of the total essential oil content with oxygenated
sesquiterpenes
Sesquiterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of three isoprene units and often have the molecular formula C15H24. Like monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes may be cyclic or contain rings, including many unique combinations. Biochemical modificatio ...
being most present (57.5%) followed by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (11.8%) and oxygenated
monoterpenes
Monoterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of two isoprene units and have the molecular formula C10H16. Monoterpenes may be linear (acyclic) or contain rings (monocyclic and bicyclic). Modified terpenes, such as those containing oxygen funct ...
(6.7%).
Spathulenol was the most representative component (48.0%), followed by isospathulenol (5.8%), δ-Elemene (4.2%), λ-gurjunene (4.0%) and
camphor
Camphor () is a waxy, colorless solid with a strong aroma. It is classified as a terpenoid and a cyclic ketone. It is found in the wood of the camphor laurel ('' Cinnamomum camphora''), a large evergreen tree found in East Asia; and in the k ...
(3.7%). Additionally, it was found that ''P. tobira'' seed essential oils exhibited important antioxidant activity.
Methanol extracts of ''P. tobira'' was found to control more than 90% development of
rice blast
''Magnaporthe grisea'', also known as rice blast fungus, rice rotten neck, rice seedling blight, blast of rice, oval leaf spot of graminea, pitting disease, ryegrass blast, Johnson spot, neck blast, wheat blast, and Imochi (Japanese:稲熱) is a ...
, an important rice pathogen for commercial rice production, at 1,000 μg/ml.
Cultivation and uses
This shrub is a common, drought-tolerant and fairly hardy landscaping plant.
Many cultivars have been developed, including dwarf forms and the popular 'Variegata', which has
variegated
Variegation is the appearance of differently coloured zones in the leaves and sometimes the stems and fruit of plants. Species with variegated individuals are sometimes found in the understory of tropical rainforests, and this habitat is the s ...
leaves. It is used for hedges, living privacy screens, and indoor and outdoor
planter boxes.
[ The stems, leaves, and dried fruits are used in flower arrangements.
''P. tobira'' is suitable for a Mediterranean climate, but may be more sensitive than other common ornamental plants to drought-induced stress. In 2014, a study comparing the effects of drought stress of five common ornamental plants found ''P. tobira'' to be the only plant whose total dry biomass was significantly affected (noting a 19% decrease in biomass). The plant may also be useful for fire-resistant landscaping due to its high gross ]heat of combustion
The heating value (or energy value or calorific value) of a substance, usually a fuel or food (see food energy), is the amount of heat released during the combustion of a specified amount of it.
The ''calorific value'' is the total energy relea ...
. This plant may also be associated with more damage to other plant species when it is nonnative. A 2016 analysis of 49 plant species in green spaces in Madrid found ''P. tobira'' to be among the most likely shrubs to be associated with damage to native plant species.
The species and the cultivar 'Variegatum' have both gained the Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity.
The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nort ...
's Award of Garden Merit
The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions.
History
The Award of Garden Merit ...
.
Ecology and interactions
Common pests of this plant include various aphid
Aphids are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. The group includes the fluffy white woolly aphids. A t ...
s, mite
Mites are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods). Mites span two large orders of arachnids, the Acariformes and the Parasitiformes, which were historically grouped together in the subclass Acari, but genetic analysis does not show clear evid ...
s, and leafhopper
A leafhopper is the common name for any species from the family Cicadellidae. These minute insects, colloquially known as hoppers, are plant feeders that suck plant sap from grass, shrubs, or trees. Their hind legs are modified for jumping, and a ...
s, the cotton cushiony scale (''Icerya purchasi''), and root-knot nematode
Root-knot nematodes are plant-parasitic nematodes from the genus ''Meloidogyne''. They exist in soil in areas with hot climates or short winters. About 2000 plants worldwide are susceptible to infection by root-knot nematodes and they cause appr ...
s (''Meloidogyne'' spp.). It can be attacked by the pit-making pittosporum scale (''Planchonia arabidis''). It is vulnerable to the fungal plant pathogen '' Erythricium salmonicolor'', which causes gall
Galls (from the Latin , 'oak-apple') or ''cecidia'' (from the Greek , anything gushing out) are a kind of swelling growth on the external tissues of plants, fungi, or animals. Plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissues, similar to be ...
s and the dieback disease known as pink limb blight.
The pathogenic plant fungus ''Rhizoctonia solani
''Rhizoctonia solani'' is a species of fungus in the order Cantharellales. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are thin, effused, and web-like, but the fungus is more typically encountered in its anamorphic state, as hyphae and sclerotia. The name ''Rhi ...
'' forms white, web-like basidial fructifications on the lower sides of infected leaves of Pittosporum tobira.
The fruit of the plant are not poisonous but not edible. However, they are eaten by bulbuls
The bulbuls are members of a family, Pycnonotidae, of medium-sized passerine songbirds, which also includes greenbuls, brownbuls, leafloves, and bristlebills. The family is distributed across most of Africa and into the Middle East, tropical As ...
and other birds in Japan. The sticky substance around the seeds allow them to stick to the beaks of birds and be carried long distances. The stench given off when broken is thought to have evolved to repel predation from foraging animals but it is a favorite of the silka deer
The sika deer (''Cervus nippon''), also known as the Northern spotted deer or the Japanese deer, is a species of deer native to much of East Asia and introduced to other parts of the world. Previously found from northern Vietnam in the south to ...
.
Gallery
File:Japanese Cheesewood -- Pittosporum tobira.jpg, Japanese Cheesewood flowers
File:Pittosporum tobira MHNT.BOT.2006.0.1264.JPG, ''Pittosporum tobira'' - MHNT
File:Pittosporum tobira Fruits.jpg, Fruits and seeds in Japan
File:Unidentified plants in Italy.JPG, ''P. tobira'' growing in Italy
References
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment
Photo gallery
Flora of China
FlowerDB
{{Authority control
tobira
Flora of China
Flora of Japan
Flora of Korea
Flora of Taiwan
Garden plants of Asia