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Conservation Status
IUCN: not evaluated
USFWS: None
Family: PITTOSPORACEAE Genus: Pittosporum Species: confertiflorum Species Author: A. Gray Vernacular: Hoawa, Haawa
Pittosporum confertiflorum is an evergreen shrub or small tree ranging in height from 2-9 meters tall. The branches are stiff and upright and the leaves tend to be clustered at the ends of the branches. Young branches are often coated with reddish-brown or brown hairs. The leaves are thick and leathery and vary widely in size ranging in length from 7-30 cm and in width from 3-11 cm. They are oblong in shape with entire margins that are often rolled under and can appear somewhat wrinkled because of the prominent veins. The upper surfaces of older leaves are glossy green while the young leaves and lower surfaces of older leaves are covered with pale brown to reddish brown. In East Maui populations the underside of the leaves are covered with white hairs.
The flowers of Pittosporum confertiflorum are usually produced in clusters (inflorescences) at the end of branches although in populations from the Ko`olau Range in Oahu plants produce clusters of flowers both terminally and lower down on the branches. The inflorescenses are borne on a short stalk (3-25 mm) and typically contain 5-14 densely packed flowers. While most Pittosporum species have unisexual flowers, Pittosporum confertiflorum can produce both unisexual and perfect flowers (flowers which contain both male (pollen producing) and female (ovule producing) structures). The calyx is covered with dense brown to reddish brown hairs. The tubular cream to white flowers are about 13-23 mm long. The fruit of Pittosporum confertiflorum are capsules that are are dry when mature and ripen during the winter. They are ovoid in shape (20-35 mm long) and are covered in brown to reddish brown hairs. The capsule has a wrinkled or rough exterior and a thick exocarp (the outer layer of the mature fruit) which opens as the fruit dries to reveal the orange or red inner surface of the capsule. Each capsule contains 30 to 50 black or brown seeds that are small (4-8 mm long) and have a pulpy coating that produces a matrix in which the seeds are embedded.
(Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai`i. Revised Edition. Volume 2. Bishop Museum Special Publication 97. University of Hawai`i Press, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
Pittosporum species were utilized in traditional practice for their medicinal properties. The outer layer of the fruit was pounded and utilized by native Hawaiians to treat sores. Unspecified plant parts were utilized for the treatment of tuberculosis. The wood was also utilized to make gunwales for canoes.
Merlin, M. 1999. Hawaiian Forest Plants. Pacific Guide Books, Honolulu, HI.
Moerman, D. 1999. Native American Ethnobotany, Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.
Pittosporum confertiflorum is the most widespread and common of the 10 endemic Hawaiian Pittosporum species. It is found on O'ahu, Lana'i, Maui and Hawai'i in dry to wet forests and subalpine forests at elevations ranging from 180-2,200 meters.
(Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai`i. Revised Edition. Volume 2. Bishop Museum Special Publication 97. University of Hawai`i Press, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
We currently have 36 herbarium specimens for Pittosporum confertiflorum in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.
