''Psydrax oleifolia'', commonly known as wild lemon or brush myrtle, is a species of
shrub
A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...
or small
tree
In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...
in the family
Rubiaceae.
It is endemic to eastern and inland Australia, (
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
and
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
).
Description
''Psydrax oleifolia'' is a small tree or shrub which can grow up to 7 m high. The bark is grey. The trunk is erect and the stiff branches are roughly horizontal branches. The juvenile plants often have large spines.
The leaves are roughly erect, and 4.5–6.5 cm long by 17–24 mm wide. They have an obtuse apex and a lamina which is yellowish green or pale green. Their venation is obscure and they are thick and leathery on petioles of about 1 cm.
The fragrant flowers are few to many, in dense cymose panicles to 2.6 cm long and 1.5–4.0 cm across, with 23–39 flowers. The calyx is 1–2 mm long, and 4- or 5-lobed. The white corolla has a tube which is 1.5–2 mm long and four to five lobes which are 3–5 mm long. The stigma is mitre-shaped. The fruit is a black drupe which is about 6 mm wide.
Image gallery
Image:Canthium oleifolius flowers.jpg, ''Psydrax oleifolia'' flowers
Image:Psydrax oleifolia in flower at Narrabri.jpg, Horizontal branches
Image:P3238558 Psydrax oleifolia.jpg, Developing fruit
References
External links
Psydrax oleifolium ccurrence datafrom the
Australasian Virtual Herbarium
The ''Australasian Virtual Herbarium'' (AVH) is an online resource that allows access to plant specimen data held by various Australian and New Zealand herbaria. It is part of the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA), and was formed by the amalgamat ...
*
Plants described in 1786
Flora of Queensland
Flora of New South Wales
Taxa named by William Jackson Hooker
{{tree-stub