Breynia oblongifolia, commonly known as coffee bush, grows naturally in Australia and New Guinea as shrubs up to 3 m (10 ft) in height. The species produces alternate, distichous, ovate leaves 20–30 mm (0.8–1.2 in) long by 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) wide.[2] Small, green flowers are produced in spring and summer, and these are followed by orange or pink berries about 6 mm (0.24 in) diameter that turn black when fully ripe.
The species tolerates wide variety of environments, and is found in coastal tropical rainforests in North Queensland and New Guinea through to cool Eucalypt woodlands in south–eastern New South Wales to arid Acacia woodlands in Western Queensland. This plant proliferates in disturbed areas and can recolonise cleared sites and can pop up occasionally in undisturbed gardens, the species will spread at the expense of fire-dependent species if fire is withdrawn from an ecosystem used to being burnt. This plant supports many different animals that feed on leaves, berries and flowers.
This native shrub may be confused with Senna species which are found in similar habitats, but Senna has opposite leaves (leaflets facing each other in pairs) unlike the alternate leaves of B. oblongifolia, and Senna produces conspicuous yellow flowers followed by leguminous pods in contrast to the inconspicuous flowers and red berries of B. oblongifolia.
Breynia oblongifolia presumably is dependent on leafflower moths (Epicephala spp.) for its pollination, like other species of tree in the genus Breynia.[3][4] Leafflower moths have been reared from fruit of this species in Australia.[5]
Referencesedit
Wikispecies has information related to Breynia oblongifolia.
^"Breynia oblongifolia". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
^Kawakita, A.; Kato, M. 2004. Obligate pollination mutualism in Breynia (Phyllanthaceae): further documentation of pollination mutualism involving Epicephala moths (Gracillariidae). American Journal of Botany. 91: 1319–1325
^Zhang, J.; Wang, S.; Li, H.; Hu, B.; Yang, X.; Wang, Z. 2012. "Diffuse coevolution between two Epicephala species (Gracillariidae) and two Breynia species (Phyllanthaceae). PLOS ONE. 7: e41657.
^Kawakita, A.; Kato, M. 2009. "Repeated independent evolution of obligate pollination mutualism in the Phyllantheae-Epicephala association." Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 276: 417–426.
April 13, 2024
breynia, oblongifolia, commonly, known, coffee, bush, grows, naturally, australia, guinea, shrubs, height, species, produces, alternate, distichous, ovate, leaves, long, wide, small, green, flowers, produced, spring, summer, these, followed, orange, pink, berr. Breynia oblongifolia commonly known as coffee bush grows naturally in Australia and New Guinea as shrubs up to 3 m 10 ft in height The species produces alternate distichous ovate leaves 20 30 mm 0 8 1 2 in long by 10 20 mm 0 4 0 8 in wide 2 Small green flowers are produced in spring and summer and these are followed by orange or pink berries about 6 mm 0 24 in diameter that turn black when fully ripe Breynia oblongifoliaBreynia oblongifolia fruit and foliageScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder MalpighialesFamily PhyllanthaceaeGenus BreyniaSpecies B oblongifoliaBinomial nameBreynia oblongifolia Mull Arg Mull Arg 1 B oblongifolia flowers The species tolerates wide variety of environments and is found in coastal tropical rainforests in North Queensland and New Guinea through to cool Eucalypt woodlands in south eastern New South Wales to arid Acacia woodlands in Western Queensland This plant proliferates in disturbed areas and can recolonise cleared sites and can pop up occasionally in undisturbed gardens the species will spread at the expense of fire dependent species if fire is withdrawn from an ecosystem used to being burnt This plant supports many different animals that feed on leaves berries and flowers This native shrub may be confused with Senna species which are found in similar habitats but Senna has opposite leaves leaflets facing each other in pairs unlike the alternate leaves of B oblongifolia and Senna produces conspicuous yellow flowers followed by leguminous pods in contrast to the inconspicuous flowers and red berries of B oblongifolia Breynia oblongifolia presumably is dependent on leafflower moths Epicephala spp for its pollination like other species of tree in the genus Breynia 3 4 Leafflower moths have been reared from fruit of this species in Australia 5 References edit nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Breynia oblongifolia Breynia oblongifolia Australian Plant Name Index APNI IBIS database Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research Australian Government Canberra Retrieved 10 October 2008 F A Zich B P M Hyland T Whiffen R A Kerrigan 2020 Breynia oblongifolia Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants RFK8 Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research CANBR Australian Government Retrieved 1 June 2021 Kawakita A Kato M 2004 Obligate pollination mutualism in Breynia Phyllanthaceae further documentation of pollination mutualism involving Epicephala moths Gracillariidae American Journal of Botany 91 1319 1325 Zhang J Wang S Li H Hu B Yang X Wang Z 2012 Diffuse coevolution between two Epicephala species Gracillariidae and two Breynia species Phyllanthaceae PLOS ONE 7 e41657 Kawakita A Kato M 2009 Repeated independent evolution of obligate pollination mutualism in the Phyllantheae Epicephala association Proceedings of the Royal Society B 276 417 426 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Breynia oblongifolia amp oldid 1026272571, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
