Common name: Silky Myrtle
Decaspermum humile (G.Don) A.J.Scott APNI* Synonyms: Decaspermum paniculatum (Lindl.) Kurz APNI* Decaspermum parviflorum (Lam.) A.J.Scott APNI*
Description: Shrub or tree to 15 m high; young branchlets silky, glabrescent with age.
Leaves with lamina ovate to lanceolate, 2–8 cm long, 15–30 mm wide, apex acuminate, base ± attenuate, margins entire and recurved, at first silky then upper surface glabrous and glossy, lower surface ± sparsely hairy; venation inconspicuous; oil glands numerous; petiole 4–7 mm long.
Inflorescences usually axillary botryoids up to 7 cm long, less commonly 3-flowered cymes; peduncle 2–5 mm. Hypanthium silky. Sepals up to 1 mm long. Petals ± circular, 3–5 mm long, white. Stamens 2–3 mm long, ± as long as the style. Stigma small, capitate.
Berry globose, 4–8 mm diam.; seeds 8–10, black.
Flowering: chiefly autumn.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in coastal or riparian rainforest, north from Gosford area.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC
Other Australian states: Qld
Text by Peter G. Wilson Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 2 (1991)
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.
|