Herb latin name: Pittosporum balansae


Synonyms: Pittosporum confertum


Family: Pittosporaceae



Edible parts of Pittosporum balansae:

Fruit. No more details are given.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Evergreen
Shrub

Height:
3 m
(9 3/4 foot)

Habitat of the herb:

Dense forests and streamsides in W Guangdong, SW Guangxi and Hainan Provinces.

Propagation of Pittosporum balansae:

Seed - sow when ripe in the autumn or in late winter in a warm greenhouse. The seed usually germinates freely. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, move the plants to a cold frame as soon as they are established and plant out late in the following spring. Consider giving them some protection from the cold during their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 7cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Poor to fair percentage. Basal ripewood cuttings late autumn in a cold frame.

Cultivation of the herb:

Dense forests and streamsides in W Guangdong, SW Guangxi and Hainan Provinces.

Medicinal use of Pittosporum balansae:

None known

Known hazards of Pittosporum balansae:

Although no mention has been found for this species, some members of this genus contain saponins. Saponins are found in many foods, such as some beans, and although they are fairly toxic to people they are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problem. They are also broken down if the food is thoroughly cooked for a long time. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish.

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.