Pittosporum viridiflorum split fruit capsules

The Pittosporum viridiflorum fruit is a globose, creamy brown capsule of up to 8 mm in diameter. The fruits grow stalked in loose, rounded clusters, often conspicuous in great numbers on the trees.

The ripe fruit splits, revealing up to four seeds covered in a shiny, orange, red or brownish, resinous coating. The brilliant red was missed in the photo. This coating is sticky and slow-drying, probably having a role in animal- and bird-assisted dispersal when they eat the fruits. The fruits are mostly seen on the trees from late spring to winter. This tree, growing near Caledon, was photographed in February.

The generic name, Pittosporum, is derived from the Greek words pitta meaning resin and spora meaning seed, referring to the resinous feature. The leaves also bear a resin scent, sometimes faint, enhanced when crushed (Venter, 2012; Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Pooley, 1993; iNaturalist).