Lolly bush
Clerodendrum floribundum, Fam. Lamiaceae
Slender shrub to small tree, between 3m and 5m high.
Weed Category: | |
Weed: | No |
Form or habit: | Shrub, Small tree |
Family: | Lamiaceae |
Leaf: | Simple Opposite Entire, narrow to broad, ovate to elliptic, 4-8 x 2-12cm, petioles with purple tint, glabrous. |
Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
Flower colour: |
White |
Flower description: | White, scented, cymes in upper leaf axil or terminal, tubular flowers approximately 0.8cm in diameter, flowering period mainly August to October. |
Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
Fruit colour: |
Black, Blue |
Fruit: | Fleshy |
Fruit description: | Blue black, fleshy, globular, shiny drupe in an enlarged red calyx, March to December. |
Habitat: | Gallery (Riverine or riparian) forest,Woodland/ open forest,Beach Scrub/Littoral Rainforest,Beach strand/ coastal dune |
Distribution | Queensland, Northern Territory and New South Wales |
Food source for: | Birds are attracted to the fruit (green cat bird, satin bowerbird), provides for the larval stage of the fiery-jewel and black spotted flash butterflies and the sandal-box hawk moth. |
Toxicity: | Toxic if ingested |
Origin: | Australia |
Notes: | Aboriginal people ate the root of this plant. |
Information sources: | Beasley J. (2009) Plants of Cape York: The Compact Guide., Melzer R. & Plumb J. (2007) Plants of Capricornia., Townsend K. & the Society for Growing Australian Plant Townsville Branch Inc. (1994) Across the Top: Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. |