Native seed catalogue

Pittosporum tenuifolium Black matipo | Kōhūhū

This guide is based on a literature review. It compiles information from various sources. Different sources may offer varying advice and findings.

Other known names

Kohukohu, kōwhiwhi, rautāwhiri

Propagation summary

Variations are found with seed viability and the time frame from sowing to germination. Uncertainty found with long-term storage.

Seed propagation category

Hard.

Geographical distribution

Found widespread throughout the North and South Islands.(1)

Seed collection

Fruit ripens between April–June.(2) Capsules are collected by hand-picking.(2)

Seed storage

Decrease in seed viability after 4 months of storage (from 77% to 9%).(3) Another study reported dry storage for 4 months did not decrease seed viability.(4)

Seed dormancy

Seeds dry stored for 4 months took up to 8 months to germinate.(4)

Pre-sowing treatments

Capsules mixed with sand and rubbed, followed by sieving the seeds.(2) Cold stratification at 4°C for 8 weeks.(3) Stratification is the process of chilling seeds to promote germination.

Seed viability

77% of fresh seeds are viable.(3)

Germination

Easy propagation from fresh seeds.(1), (5)

Nursery practices

Faster growth rate under shaded environment (16% daylight).(6)

Research opportunities

Germination, seed storage, and vegetative propagation need further investigation.

Information about the native seed profiles

All species names are in the following order: scientific name, common name, and Māori name. Names may vary by region. We have tried to use the most common names across New Zealand.

We have sourced photos from different websites and creators. We have used the images under different licences. These include Public Domain and Creative Commons licenses. For Pittosporum tenuifolium, the image details are:

The basis for each seed profile is a literature review carried out by Scion. Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service commissioned and worked on the review to produce a native seed catalogue. The full seed catalogue is on the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website.

References

1.

Kai, Y; Alfaro Pinto, A; Clavijo McCormick, A; Nadarajan, J; He, X Z; MacKay, M; McGill C (2023) Seed desiccation sensitivity varies with geographic distribution in two New Zealand native Pittosporum species. Seeds 2, 370–381.

2.

Dodd, M B; Power, I L (2007) Direct seeding of indigenous tree and shrub species into New Zealand hill country pasture. Ecological Management and Restoration 8(1), 49–55.

3.

Moore, S; Bannister, P; Jameson P E (1994) The effects of low temperatures on seed germination of some New Zealand species of Pittosporum. New Zealand Journal of Botany 32, 483–485.

4.

Metcalf, L J (1995) The propagation of New Zealand native plants. Godwit; Auckland, New Zealand.

5.

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Pittosporum tenuifolium. Accessed 17 October 2024.

6.

Williams, P A; Buxton, R P (1989) Response to reduced irradiance of 15 species of native and adventive shrub and tree seedlings from Eastern Canterbury. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 12, 95–101.

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