Myrsine variabilis, synonymRapanea variabilis,[1] known as the muttonwood or variable muttonwood is a tree of eastern Australia. The range of natural distribution is from near Milton (35° S) in southern New South Wales to the McIlwraith Range in far north Queensland (13° S).
The habitat of the muttonwood is at the edges of rainforests of various types; including tropical, sub-tropical, warm temperate and littoral rainforest.
Descriptionedit
A small tree to around 15 metres tall and up to 50 cm in stem diameter. Noticeable for the dense, dark foliage and attractive blue fruit.
The trunk is straight and mostly cylindrical. The base of the tree is not buttressed. Bark is grey or brown, somewhat corky and rough with various irregularities; such as horizontal lines and vertical cracks.
Leaves are practically sessile, the leaf stalks less than 5 mm long. Leaves alternate, toothed on young plants, wavy edged and relatively stiff. Reverse lanceolate to oblong or egg shaped; 3 to 8 cm long, not usually with a tip at the point. Leaf veins are raised and noticeable on both surfaces.
Cream flowers form in clusters along the ends of branches. 2 mm long flowers on 4 mm long flower stalks, the flowering period is mostly around July to August. The blue or violet coloured fruit mature between November and December; being a 4 to 6 mm diameter drupe.[2]
The fruit is eaten by Lewin's honeyeater and the rose crowned fruit dove.[2] Germination from fresh seed occurs without difficulty. Removal of the fleshy aril is recommended to assist seed germination.
^ ab"Myrsine variabilis R.Br". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
^ abBenson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (1997). "Ecology of Sydney Plant Species Part 5: Dicotyledon Families Flacourtiaceae to Myrsinaceae" (PDF). Cunninghamia. 5 (2): 330–544.
Media related to Myrsine variabilis at Wikimedia Commons
April 11, 2024
myrsine, variabilis, synonym, rapanea, variabilis, known, muttonwood, variable, muttonwood, tree, eastern, australia, range, natural, distribution, from, near, milton, southern, south, wales, mcilwraith, range, north, queensland, scientific, classificationking. Myrsine variabilis synonym Rapanea variabilis 1 known as the muttonwood or variable muttonwood is a tree of eastern Australia The range of natural distribution is from near Milton 35 S in southern New South Wales to the McIlwraith Range in far north Queensland 13 S Myrsine variabilisScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade AsteridsOrder EricalesFamily PrimulaceaeGenus MyrsineSpecies M variabilisBinomial nameMyrsine variabilisR Br Synonyms 1 Heurlinia variabilis R Br Raf Myrsine campanulata F Muell Rapanea campanulata F Muell Mez Rapanea variabilis R Br MezThe habitat of the muttonwood is at the edges of rainforests of various types including tropical sub tropical warm temperate and littoral rainforest Description editA small tree to around 15 metres tall and up to 50 cm in stem diameter Noticeable for the dense dark foliage and attractive blue fruit The trunk is straight and mostly cylindrical The base of the tree is not buttressed Bark is grey or brown somewhat corky and rough with various irregularities such as horizontal lines and vertical cracks Leaves are practically sessile the leaf stalks less than 5 mm long Leaves alternate toothed on young plants wavy edged and relatively stiff Reverse lanceolate to oblong or egg shaped 3 to 8 cm long not usually with a tip at the point Leaf veins are raised and noticeable on both surfaces Cream flowers form in clusters along the ends of branches 2 mm long flowers on 4 mm long flower stalks the flowering period is mostly around July to August The blue or violet coloured fruit mature between November and December being a 4 to 6 mm diameter drupe 2 The fruit is eaten by Lewin s honeyeater and the rose crowned fruit dove 2 Germination from fresh seed occurs without difficulty Removal of the fleshy aril is recommended to assist seed germination nbsp At Norah Head AustraliaReferences edit a b Myrsine variabilis R Br Plants of the World Online Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Retrieved 2022 04 13 a b Benson Doug McDougall Lyn 1997 Ecology of Sydney Plant Species Part 5 Dicotyledon Families Flacourtiaceae to Myrsinaceae PDF Cunninghamia 5 2 330 544 Floyd A G 1989 Rainforest Trees of Mainland South eastern Australia 1st ed Port Melbourne Elsevier Australia Inkata Imprint copyright Forestry Commission of New South Wales published 1989 12 01 p 236 ISBN 0 909605 57 2 Retrieved 2009 06 13 other publication details included in citation Myrsine variabilis PlantNET NSW Flora Online Retrieved 2009 06 13 nbsp Media related to Myrsine variabilis at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Myrsine variabilis amp oldid 1139856350, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
