Common name: Birdlime Tree
Pisonia umbellifera (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) Seem. APNI*
Description: Erect shrub or small tree without spines.
Leaves alternate, opposite or clustered; lamina mostly ± elliptic, 6–20 cm long, 4–10 cm wide, soft, glabrous; petiole 2–5 cm long.
Flowers mostly bisexual, in terminal leafless cymose panicles. Perianth c. 6 mm long.
Fruit 2–4 cm long, 5-ribbed, contracted below the withered upper perianth; viscid but without glandular hairs. Fruits summer to autumn. The viscid fruit sometimes stick to birds, bats or reptiles and cause their death.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread but not common; in coastal rainforest north from the Shoalhaven R.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC
Other Australian states: Qld
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & G. J. Harden Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
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.
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