Karo (Pittosporum crassifolium)
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Pittosporaceae
Genus: Pittosporum
Species: P. crassifolium
Scientific Name: Pittosporum crassifolium
Common Name: Karo, Turpentine tree.
Karo is a small tree or shrub native to New Zealand. It is found in lowland and coastal forests throughout most of the North Island. Mature trees grow to about 5m in height. Karo has dense dark gray-green leathery foliage and is an early coloniser, able to withstand high winds and salt spray. Clusters of small red-purple flowers appear in spring, developing into seed pods that split to expose the sticky seeds. Although valued as a shelter tree, Karo appears to have had no specific usage by Maori. It is not even particularly good firewood.
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