Commemorating Mary, mother of Jesus
Deacription: Shrubs initially, most eventually climbing or scrambling. Leaves alternate, generally elliptic, leaf bases often heart-shaped. Flowers mostly clustering; bisexual; irregular; petals joined in the throat or spreading from the base; either blue, combinations of cream, red and yellow, or white tinged pink; many developing contrasting spots and blotches as the flower ages.Anthers clustered by differing heights, facing the petals, curling away as the flower ages. Pistil slender, merging into an elongated style with little pistil development. Fruit capsular, mostly spindle-shaped, brittle; seeds in one row in each chamber; not dispersed by birds.
Attractive, mostly non-invasive climbers, previously included in the genus Billardiera and now reinstated (Cayzer, 1997).
14 species, 13 endemic to S WA. M. bignoniaceus F. Muell. has disjunct stands in Vic and SA.
Seed and softwood cuttings.
Climbers with elliptic leaves and fawn, cylindrical or spindle-shaped capsular fruit.
Source: (2002). Pittosporaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.