Psydrax latifolia (F.Muell. ex Benth.) S.T.Reynolds & R.J.F.Hend.
| Family Rubiaceae |
Psydrax latifolia (F.Muell. ex Benth.) S.T.Reynolds & R.J.F.Hend. APNI* Synonyms: Canthium latifolium F.Muell. ex Benth. APNI*
Description: Shrubs or small trees with branches borne at right angles to the stem; bark whitish to light or dark grey, finely fissured, branchlets reddish brown.
Leaves opposite, broad-ovate or suborbicular, elliptic-ovate or elliptic, 3.6–8.5 cm long, 3.0–8.7 cm wide, apex rounded, glabrous, coriaceous, raised nerves and dense reticulation, pale or dull green; stipules triangular and keeled; petioles 0.5–1.2 cm long, stout, flattened, slightly winged by leaf blade.
Inflorescences shorter than leaves, usually 3-branched, 14–41-flowered. Flowers 4(or5)-merous, calyx tube turbinate; corolla campanulate, 5.5–8.0 mm long, with tube shorter than lobes, sparsely hairy at throat; stamens nearly as long as corolla lobes; stigma oblongoid, 2-lobed at apex.
Fruit slightly compressed, 5–9 mm long, black and shiny when ripe.
Flowering: Spring to summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Central Australia: Far North Western Plains of NSW. Grows on a variety of soils but mostly in red sandy soil, on sandy plains, ridges and slopes.
NSW subdivisions: NFWP
Other Australian states: Qld N.T. S.A. W.A.
This species varies greatly in the shape and size of the leaves and in the prominence of the leaf venation. The branchlets are sometimes swollen due to insects living in their tissues.
Text by Louisa Murray
Taxon concept: Reynolds S.T. & Henderson R.W.J, Austrobaileya 6(4):817-889 (2004)
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.
|
