STREET AND HIGHWAY PLANTING. 



53 



THE PITTOSPORUMS. 



The Pittosporums are shrubby plants which in time attain the propor- 

 tions of trees. This latter state can be hurried by care in the nursery. 

 They are not excessively rapid growers, and since they do not give a 

 heavy shade, although they are evergreen, they are useful for some 

 narrow streets. They are of somewhat stiff habit, so that they give 

 rather formal effects, and are not spreading, so that shade is not 

 particularly conspicuous. 



Pittosporum crassifolium (Fig. 21) is found as a small sized tree 

 in many parts of the State. The leaves are medium sized, of a dark 

 green color and covered with fine silvery hairs on the lower surface. 

 The flowers, which appear in the early spring, often excite considerable 



Figure 22. 



comment on account of their dark reddish brown color. They are 

 followed in the late summer by inconspicuous fruits which burst open 

 showing the seeds. This species is rather slow growing and requires 

 considerable time to abtain the dimensions of a tree. It should there- 

 fore be sparingly used for street work. 



Pittosporum eugenoides (Fig. 22) is perhaps the one most commonly 

 found. It is very often used for hedges, but with proper care and suffi- 

 cient length of time to mature it forms a good small tree with very 

 bright colored foliage for an evergreen. The green is a distinct yellow 

 green and forms a strong contrast to other trees. The leaves are oval 

 to oblong in shape, often with undulate margins; the flowers come in 

 clusters and are not conspicuous, being of a yellowish green color ; these 

 are followed by small green berries. The tree forms a rounded crown 

 of considerable beauty. 



