Deeringia usually grows as a tree top vine but occasionally flowers and fruits as a shrub (scandent shrub) attaining 6m or more. Branches are often drooping. Vine stem diameters up to 5 cm have been recorded. Concentric rings visible in transverse sections of the stem.
Locally it can be seen as a shrub in and adjacent to beach scrubs around Cape Gloucester.
Weed Category:
Weed:
No
Form or habit:
Vine (Climbing, Twining or groundcover), Shrub
Family:
Amaranthaceae
Leaf:
Simple Alternate Leaf blades about 2.7-15 x 1-8 cm, petioles about 0.4-3.5 cm long, grooved on the upper surface. Twigs longitudinally ribbed.
Flower conspicuous:
Conspicuous
Flower colour:
White
Flower description:
White, in interrupted spikes up to 25cm long in the upper axils or in loose terminal panicles. Anthers white, filaments white, fused to form a ring or cup at the base of the ovary, pollen white.
Fruit conspicuous:
Conspicuous
Fruit colour:
Pink, Red
Fruit:
Fleshy
Fruit description:
Fleshy, pink to bright red when ripe, about 4-7 mm diameter, 3- furrowed. Style scar present at the apex.
Habitat:
Beach scrub, littoral rainforest, rainforest.
Distribution
It occurs in Western Australia, Cape York, North-east Qld and southwards as far as south-eastern New South Wales. Altitudinal range in northern Australia from near sea level to about 800 m. Grows in rain forest, particularly the drier types. It also occurs in Asia and Malesia.
Food source for:
Toxicity:
No toxicity known
Origin:
Australia; Asia; Malesia.
Notes:
Information sources:
Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants (www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/rfk/)., Flora of Pakistan (www.efloras.org)., NSW Flora Online., Whitsunday Catchment Landcare (2011) July newsletter.
