Small Velvet. Karo, Pittosporum crassifolium, Palm House, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
During Winter, the temperate Palm House of the Botanical Garden at Amsterdam is quite crowded with less than hardly plants. More or less hidden in the back is a marvellous coastal tree from the north island of New Zealand, Karo or scientifically Pittosporum crassifolium. It was already noted by intrepid naturalists and travellers Joseph Banks (1743-1820) and Daniel Carl Solanger (1733-1782); they are well-known especially for their collection of Australiana, but it is often forgotten how important they were for European knowledge of the natural world of New Zealand. Allan Cunningham (1791-1839), also a indefatigable botanist collector, found the same tree on the Cavalli Islands just off Matuari, and he is credited with its correct description (1833).
Curiously I haven't been able to find on the internet a comparable photo of Crassi's flower... Most photos are of clustered blossoms but those on this tree stand or hang alone just under the leathery, heavily bedowned leaves. Beautiful, purple velvet petals! It measures only about 8 mm across.
Small Velvet. Karo, Pittosporum crassifolium, Palm House, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
During Winter, the temperate Palm House of the Botanical Garden at Amsterdam is quite crowded with less than hardly plants. More or less hidden in the back is a marvellous coastal tree from the north island of New Zealand, Karo or scientifically Pittosporum crassifolium. It was already noted by intrepid naturalists and travellers Joseph Banks (1743-1820) and Daniel Carl Solanger (1733-1782); they are well-known especially for their collection of Australiana, but it is often forgotten how important they were for European knowledge of the natural world of New Zealand. Allan Cunningham (1791-1839), also a indefatigable botanist collector, found the same tree on the Cavalli Islands just off Matuari, and he is credited with its correct description (1833).
Curiously I haven't been able to find on the internet a comparable photo of Crassi's flower... Most photos are of clustered blossoms but those on this tree stand or hang alone just under the leathery, heavily bedowned leaves. Beautiful, purple velvet petals! It measures only about 8 mm across.