Prostrate, sprawling or semi-scandent perennial, with branches to c. 80 cm long. Leaves opposite or alternate, petiolate, acute, oblong, ovate or triangular, usually hastate at base, c. 5–25 mm long, 1.5–20 mm wide, variably mealy when young, becoming sub-glabrous with age or remaining mealy on underside. Panicle slender, little branched, usually to c. 10 cm long; perianth c. 1 mm diam., tepals sparsely mealy; stamens 0–2. Fruit berry-like, 1-seeded; pericarp succulent, yellow, pink or red at maturity, to c. 5 mm diam; fruiting perianth enlarging and often reddening in fruit, tepals widely spreading. Seed shining-black, 1–1.5 mm diam., testa patterned with minute radial grooves and equatorial areoles.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, VVP, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, HFE, VAlp. Widespread almost throughout the state, particularly in relatively dry woodlands.
A highly polymorphic species with 4 subspecies, 2 in Victoria. Considerable variation is exhibited within subspecies and some apparently intermediate specimens may not readily be ascribed to either of the 2 subspecies described here.
Created by: Andre
Messina,
7 May 2015
Updated by: Val
Stajsic,
19 Feb. 2019