Apocynaceae

Alyxia ruscifolia

(Synonym: Alyxia ruscifolia subsp. ruscifolia)

PRICKLY ALYXIA

Shrub to c. 5 m high, stiff, prickly-leaved. Latex milky, present in young stems and petioles when cut or broken. Buds and stems usually hairless; stipules several in axils of leaves, narrowly ovate, 0.5–0.7 mm long.

Leaves simple, in whorls of 3–6, variable in size and shape; lamina narrow-lanceolate to broad-ovate, 1–7 cm long, 0.3–3 cm wide, apex spinose, margins entire and slightly recurved, stiff, surfaces hairless though sometimes rough, upper surface dark green, lower surface paler; pinnately veined with 20–30 pairs of lateral veins, distinct but faint on upper surface, ± obscure on lower surface; basal glands absent; petiole 1–5 mm long.

Inflorescences in axillary, congested dichasial cymes, 4–8-flowered. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, 5-merous, 6–11 mm long, white, fragrant; sepals 5, 1.2–2.8 mm long; corolla tubular, tube 5–10 mm long, lobes 5, 2–5 mm long, spreading and twisted, corolline corona absent; anthers 5, included in corolla tube, free from style head; gynoecium of 2 carpels, free except for fused style, ovaries superior, style head cylindrical, bifid.

Fruit fleshy, a drupe, either single or moniliform and in a chain of 2–4 segments; segments ± globose, 8–15 mm long, orange or rarely black; stone solitary in each segment.

Illustration of leaves & fruit

Habitat and Distribution:

In all types of rainforest; north from the Wollongong district, N.S.W., to Windsor Tableland (NW of Cairns), N Qld.

Notes:

This is a variable taon. Previously subspecies were separated (on the size of the calyx and corolla) but they were difficult to distinguish and are no longer accepted.

Narrow-leaved plants are sometimes confused with Alyxia sharpei , but Alyxia ruscifolia  has broader leaves (narrow lanceolate and >2 mm wide, 0.3–3 cm wide) and slightly recurved margins

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