An elegant small tree with glossy green oval leaves, found on cliffs or in treetops (it is palatable to stock and possums so browsed on the ground). In trees, it is often found with astelias (tank lilies) that build and capture organic matter in which it develops. ‘Roimata’ is from the Poor Knights Islands off the Northland Coast and has large yellow flowers (functional male and female flowers are on different plants).

Sticky (viscous) fluid around the black seeds helps spread the seed by sticking to birds’ feathers and may attract birds to eat the fruit. Leaves contain volatile organic oils such as germacrene D, which have antimicrobial and insecticidal properties

A taxonomic re-evaluation of Pittosporum roimata Gemmill & S.N. Carter (Pittosporaceae, Apiales)  Pittosporum - O2 Landscapes

Shanshi Y. 2013. Characterisation of volatile compounds from the leaves of six Pittosporum species; an instrumental and sensory evaluation. Auckland: Auckland University of Technology.

Full article: Biological flora of New Zealand 16: Pittosporum kirkii Hook.f. ex Kirk, Kirk’s kōhūhū, thick-leaved kohukohu