Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_pittosporum_pentandrum
Taiwan Cheesewood
Pittosporum pentandrum
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About Taiwan Cheesewood
Taiwan Cheesewood (Pittosporum pentandrum) is an introduced tree documented on Kauaʻi by Bishop Museum’s 2025 checklist and the 2026 Smithsonian checklist. Its checklist classification is naturalized; current extent is unassessed. Native from southern China and Taiwan through the Philippines and parts of Malesia, where it occupies subtropical to tropical forest and thickets. Sticky seeds can attach to animals. Bishop Museum and Smithsonian document naturalized Kauaʻi occurrence; present extent and ecological effects remain unassessed.
Kauaʻi evidence
Taxonomic identity, tree form, diagnostic morphology and island occurrence use the linked reviewed sources. Historical planting, cultivation, naturalization and invasive status are separate. Generated imagery is not occurrence evidence.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Pittosporum pentandrum
- Common names
- Taiwan Cheesewood · Philippine pittosporum
- Other names
- Pittosporum pentandrum · Taiwan cheesewood · Philippine pittosporum
- Record type
- Species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Introduced
- Conservation status
- Not yet assessed
- Evidence date
- 2026-10-06
- Evidence limits
- Present island-wide abundance, occupied habitat, recruitment, population trend, and ecological effects have not been quantified; no invasive severity is inferred from checklist or forestry status.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Not yet assessed
- Food and resource needs
- Not yet assessed
- Reproduction
- Fragrant bisexual flowers require pollination, after which dry capsules split to reveal resinous sticky seeds. Birds or other animals may move seeds; Kauaʻi-specific pollinators, dispersers, and recruitment are not documented.
- Shelter
- Not yet assessed
- Growth form
- Shrub or small tree
Threats and conservation
- Monitoring
- Not yet assessed
- Data gaps
- Current population extent and trajectory · Additional species-specific ecological and conservation sources
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not yet assessed
- Seasonal description
- Taiwan Cheesewood (Pittosporum pentandrum) is an introduced tree documented on Kauaʻi by Bishop Museum’s 2025 checklist and the 2026 Smithsonian checklist. Its checklist classification is naturalized; current extent is unassessed. Native from southern China and Taiwan through the Philippines and parts of Malesia, where it occupies subtropical to tropical forest and thickets. Sticky seeds can attach to animals. Bishop Museum and Smithsonian document naturalized Kauaʻi occurrence; present extent and ecological effects remain unassessed.