Pittosporum kirkii is a glabrous evergreen perennial shrub that reaches up to 5 metres (16 ft) in height and possesses distinctive coriaceous, fleshy, thick leaves. It is one of four shrubs endemic to New Zealand that frequently displays an epiphytic lifestyle. P. kirkii is commonly epiphytic, perched amongst nest epiphytes in the canopies of emergent or canopy trees in old-growth forest; however, it can be observed occasionally growing on the ground or over rocks (in a rupestral lifestyle). The type locality of P. kirkii is Great Barrier Island. It was first described by Joseph Dalton Hooker from material collected by Thomas Kirk, published in 1869. The initial brief description titled Pittosporum n. sp.? by Thomas Kirk was published in his paper on Great Barrier Island in 1868. This desc