Pittosporum eugenioides

Tarata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Apiales
Family:	Pittosporaceae
Genus:	Pittosporum
Species:	P. eugenioides
Binomial name
Pittosporum eugenioides A.Cunn., 1840

Pittosporum eugenioides, common names lemonwood or tarata, is a species of New Zealand native tree. Growing to 12 m (39 ft) tall by 5 m (16 ft) broad, it is conical when young but more rounded in shape when mature. Its leaves are mottled yellow-green with curly edges and a salient bright midrib, and have a strong lemony smell when crushed. It has highly fragrant clusters of attractive yellow-cream flowers in spring, followed by distinctive black seed capsules. It is found throughout New Zealand's North and South Islands along forest margins and stream banks from sea level to 600 m (1,969 ft). It is New Zealand's largest pittosporum.

The binomial qualifier eugenioides means "resembling Eugenia", a different genus of plants.

The variegated cultivar 'Variegatum' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Maori traditionally used the gum and crushed leaves and flowers of the tarata for scent, usually mixed with plant oils such as titoki and kohia.

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Wikipedia