Chain fruit
Alyxia ruscifolia, Fam. Apocynaceae
Rigid, erect shrub up to 3m, with whorls of leathery leaves and brown or grey bark.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Shrub |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple, entire, in whorls of three to six, narrowly to broadly elliptic or obovate, 1-7cm long, dark green and glossy above, paler below, leathery. Margins flat to strongly revolute. Apex sharply mucronate. Milky latex. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
White, Cream, Pink |
| Flower description: | Terminal or occasionally axillary, very congested cymes (up to 5mm long) of small, white, cream or pink and white flowers, 6-11mm long, with a strong, sweet fragrance. Any month of the year. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Orange, Red |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Red or occasionally orange, globular berries, 8.5-11.5 x 7-11mm, occurring singly or in 'chains' of two to four bead-like articles. June to May. |
| Habitat: | Littoral rainforest, open forest, rainforest. |
| Distribution | Queensland, New South Wales. |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Australia. |
| Notes: | Prefers well composted soil and will grow in full sun. Attractive and unusual shrub that can be propagated from seed or cuttings and is adaptable but slow growing. Seed germination may be slow. |
| Information sources: | Melzer R. & Plumb J. (2007) Plants of Capricornia. |
