Common name: Prickly Alyxia, Chain Fruit
Alyxia ruscifolia R.Br. APNI* 
Description: Erect shrub to 2.5 m high.
Leaves in whorls of 3–6, narrow-lanceolate to broad-ovate, 1–6 cm long, 4–30 mm wide, apex acute or acuminate and spinose, glabrous, leathery, glossy, margins slightly recurved, entire or rarely denticulate; lateral veins usually prominent; petiole 1–4 mm long.
Flowers white, fragrant, in terminal heads of 3–5 flowers. Calyx lobes 2–3 mm long. Corolla tube 5–7 mm long, lobes c. 3 mm long, asymmetric. Anthers 1 mm long, orange.
Fruit of 1–3 articles; articles ± globose, 8–11 mm diam., orange to red.
Flowering: spring–autumn.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in most types of rainforest from sea level to 1200 m alt., sometimes in sclerophyll forest; north from Wollongong.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, NT, LHI
Other Australian states: Qld N.T.
Some large-leaved lowland forms may represent a distinct taxon.
Text by G. J. Harden & J. B. Williams
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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