Mountain Pittosporum or Hairy Pittosporum

Mountain Pittosporum or Hairy Pittosporum fruit pictured
This is a tropical rainforest species carrying orange seed capsules averaging 1.5 cm across. They like wetter rainforests and these were taken from two different places in the Daintree/Cape Tribulation rainforests where falls average 120 - 140 inches a year. It is only a shrub growing under the rainforest canopy but the fruits can be quite striking against the muted greens and earth colours even though it is not a prolific bearer.

In its native state it is not found south of Proserpine on the central Queensland coast.

Fruits are produced mostly in summer and autumn. The name (Pittosporum rubiginosum) means rusty, and refers to the hairs on the new shoots and underneath the leaves. Important fruit also for birds and cassowaries.