Creek premna
Premna serratifolia, Fam. Lamiaceae
A spreading shrub or small tree, 2-4m high, with fissured or flaky brown grey bark.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Shrub, Small tree |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Leaf: | Opposite, broadly egg shaped, smooth, leathery, light green, prominent veins, midrib raised beneath, 7-15 x 5-10cm. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Cream, Green |
| Flower description: | Green cream, 0.4-0.6 x 0.4-0.6cm, borne on spreading terminal panicles 10-20cm across. January to June. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Black |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Black, globular, smooth, 0.3-0.6cm in diameter. |
| Habitat: | Coastal dune, vine thicket. |
| Distribution | Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, New Guinea, Malesia. |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Australia, New Guinea, Malesia. |
| Notes: | Propagate from seed. Aborigines used the leaves, heated, to treat stings of stonefish and stingray and spear wounds. |
| Information sources: | Atlas of Living Australia (2022) Premna serratifolia L., Townsend K. & the Society for Growing Australian Plant Townsville Branch Inc. (1994) Across the Top: Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. |
