Sweet Pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum)

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Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna Reserve
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Sweet Pittosporum, Pittosporum undulatum, is a large native shrub. It is normally found in wet forest/rainforest areas east of Westernport, Victoria, and along the southern side of the Great Dividing Range as far north as Brisbane. Its natural western boundary is just east of Pakenham. The range of this species increased dramatically since European settlement, mostly because of its popularity as a gaden shrub. Its dense growth makes it suitable for hedges. It is now found growing in bushland areas around Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Portland (Vic.) and along the Otway coast. Due to its spread outside its range and its Above: Sweet Pittosporum       ability to invade indigenous vegetation, it is   
growing in Akoonah Park         classified as an environmental weed.

The dense canopy of the Sweet Pittosporum blocks out most of the light reaching species growing underneath. This alters the structure of  indigenous vegetation and prevents regeneration of indigenous species. A close look underneath a Sweet Pittosporum bush will show nothing but its fallen leaves. This results in the loss of habitat available for small native animals, such as reptiles, Antechinus, and other small mammals.

An environmental weed is a weed which threatens natural ecosystems, invading plant communities, out-competing indigenous (local) species, reducing diversity and resulting in a loss of habitat for native animals. Environmental weeds can be native species, as is Sweet Pittosporum. In natural conditions, each species of native plant has a range of distribution which is determined by the area's climate, soil type, water and nutrient availability, frequency of fire, etc. Outside of these conditions, species may be subject to unsuitable conditions for growth. The factors which limit the growth of a plant species are referred to as 'limiting factors'.

One of the limiting factors for Sweet Pittosporum is fire. Sweet Pittosporum is adapted to a wet environment that is not subject to frequend fires, and therefore plants will die when burned. Since European settlement, fire has been excluded from bush areas, meaning that fire intolerant species such as the Sweet Pittosporum have been able to spread to other areas. The spread of Sweet Pittosporum has also been assisted greatly by garden plantings, providing a 'seed source' in new areas. The European blackbird     Above: Sweet Pittosporum berries
is thought to spread Sweet  Pittosporum seeds
in their droppings after feeding on the plant's berries.

Sweet Pittosporum has been growing in the Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna Reserve for many years. It was noted as a threat to indigenous flora in reports on the reserve as early as 1972. Weeding has been carried out periodically over the years, but the most effective work to control the weed has been carried out by the Friends Group since they formed in 1998. Today, the weed has been controlled in most of the reserve. Follow up work is now required a few times a year to remove any seedlings that grow. Some of the main methods for controlling Sweet Pittosporum include:

- Control burning sections of the reserve to reduce weed infestation and promote regeneration of indigenous species.

- Removing or poisoning stumps of Pittosporum trees to eliminate regrowth from the stump.

- Examining the availability of environmental weeds in local nurseries and limiting their sale as a garden plant.

- Educating locals residents about environmental weeds and encouraging people to plant species which do not spread into natural areas.