Myrsine howittiana
Species of tree
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Myrsine howittiana, the brush muttonwood[3] or muttonwood,[4] is a shrub or small tree in the family Primulaceae. The species is endemic to eastern Australia.[3][5]
| Myrsine howittiana | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Primulaceae |
| Genus: | Myrsine |
| Species: | M. howittiana |
| Binomial name | |
| Myrsine howittiana | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Rapanea howittiana Mez | |
It grows to between 3 and 10 metres in height and has smooth, often whitish, bark.[4] The buds of new growth are covered with rusty-coloured hairs. The leaves are obovate to elliptic in shape and between 4 and 13 cm long and 2 to 4 cm wide.[3] These are shiny with wavy edges and a duller undersurface and have petioles that are 7 to 14 mm in length.[3] Greenish-white to cream flowers are produced in spring and summer.[3] These are followed by blue or mauve fruits which are 5 to 7 mm in diameter and ripen between December and June.[3]
The species is pollinated by a thrips (thunderfly), Thrips setipennis.[6] The species occurs from southern Victoria (37° S), northwards through New South Wales to Fraser Island (25° S) in Queensland often in areas where rainforest interfaces with moist open forest.[3]
