Sp. Pl. 125 (1753) APNI
Taxonomic status:Accepted
Occurrence status:Present
Establishment means:Naturalised
Evergreen shrub or small tree to 10 m high, glabrous except for pubescent new growth and inflorescences; bark pale grey. Leaves ovate, elliptic or oblong, 3–10 cm long, 2.5–5 cm wide, apex acute, spine-tipped, margins undulate, spinose-dentate, sometimes entire on old trees, coriaceous, dark green and shiny above, paler and dull below; petiole 5–15 mm long, grooved. Cymes 3-flowered, clustered in axillary fascicles, rarely female flowers solitary; pedicels to c. 3 mm long. Flowers dull white or pinkish, fragrant; sepals triangular-ovate, c. 1.5 mm long, free in upper half; petals elliptic, 2–5 mm long; stamens half as long as petals; anthers c. 1.5 mm long. Drupe ovoid or globose, 7–10 mm long, 6–10 mm diam., bright red; pyrenes usually 4–5, ribbed. Flowers mostly late spring–summer.
*CVU, *EGL, *GipP, *HNF, *HSF, *MonT, *Strz, *VAlp, *VVP. Also naturalised SA, NSW. Native of Europe. A popular garden ornamental becoming established in a few cooler, higher rainfall parts of the State. It is a troublesome weed in the Dandenong Ranges and near Mt Donna Buang to the east of Melbourne.
Bioregion | Occurrence status | Establishment means | |
---|---|---|---|
Victorian Volcanic Plain | present | naturalised | |
Gippsland Plain | present | naturalised | |
Central Victorian Uplands | present | naturalised | |
East Gippsland Lowlands | present | naturalised | |
Highlands-Southern Fall | present | naturalised | |
Highlands-Northern Fall | present | naturalised | |
Strzelecki Ranges | present | naturalised | |
Monaro Tablelands | present | naturalised | |
Victorian Alps | present | introduced |
State |
---|
South Australia |
New South Wales |
Australian Capital Territory |
Victoria |
Tasmania |