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Central QLD Coast Landcare Network

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Coffee Bush

Breynia oblongifolia, Fam. Euphorbiaceae


Erect, slender shrub, understory plant, grows 2-4m high.

Form or habit: Shrub or small tree
Latex: Euphorbiaceae
Leaf: Simple Alternate
Leaves entire, broadly ovate or oblong-ovate, up to 3.5cm in length with lateral veins obscure.
Flower conspicuous: Conspicuous
Flower colour: Greenish-yellow
Flower description: Pendulous flowers occur singular in leaf axils, any month of the year.
Fruit conspicuous: Conspicuous
Fruit colour: Pinkish-red maturing to black
Fruit: Fleshy
Fruit description: Small berries 6mm in diameter, occuring any time of year.
Habitat: Gallery (Riverine or riparian) forest,Woodland/ open forest,Beach Scrub/Littoral Rainforest,Rainforest
Distribution Queensland, Northern Territory and north-east New South Wales.
Food source for: Host plant of aphids, fruits consumed by brown-cuckoo dove, eclectus parrot, Lewin's honeyeater, satin bowerbird and silvereye. This plant also provides for the larval stage of large grass buterfly, and for the following moth species;Parallelia frontina, Parallelia solomonensis and Phyllocnistis diaugella.
Toxicity: Toxic if ingested,Toxic or irritant to domestic pets
Origin: Australia
Weed: No
Weed status:
Notes: Despite the common name, this plant should not be consumed by humans and is posionous to stock.
Information sources: Melzer R. & Plumb J. (2007) Plants of Capricornia.,Society for Growing Australian Plant Townsville Branch Inc. (1994) Across the Top Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics.

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