pittosporum

American  

[pi-tos-per-uhm, pit-uh-spawr-uhm, -spohr-] / pɪˈtɒs pər əm, ˌpɪt əˈspɔr əm, -ˈspoʊr- /

noun

1. any of various shrubs or trees of the genus Pittosporum, native to warm regions of the Old World, many species of which are cultivated as ornamentals for their attractive foliage, flowers, or fruit.

---

pittosporum British  

/ pɪˈtɒspərəm /

noun

1. any of various trees and shrubs of the Pittosporum genus of Australasia, Asia, and Africa, having small fragrant flowers

---

Etymology

Origin of pittosporum

< New Latin, equivalent to Greek ( Attic ) pitto- (combining form of pítta, píssa pitch ² ) + spór ( os ) seed ( spore ) + New Latin -um neuter noun ending; so called from the resinous coating of the seeds

Example Sentences

When she was lying-in-state in Westminster Hall, the wreath included pine from the gardens at Balmoral and pittosporum, lavender and rosemary from the gardens at Windsor.

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2022

Wood-and-glass doors from the ’50s open onto the long roof, which is planted with small cherry trees, clematis and flowering shrubs including nandina and pittosporum.

From New York Times • Sep. 22, 2021

That’s the Victorian box tree, pittosporum, popularized a hundred years ago.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2021

Shown in photo gallery above: The box is about 2 feet by 3 inches and contains peach branches, ranunculus, anemones, larkspur, leptospermum, wax flower, ivy and pittosporum, $400 plus tax and delivery.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 7, 2015

I'm in the back checking out their new pittosporum tenuifolium, and I catch sight of Dell talking to Henry in the corner.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan