Myoporum montanum
| Boobialla | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Genus: | Myoporum |
| Species: | M. montanum |
| Binomial name | |
| Myoporum montanum R. Br. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Myoporum acuminatum var. angustifolium | |
Myoporum montanum, commonly known as waterbush or boobialla, is a shrub native to Australia, New Guinea and Timor. It grows in a wide variety of ecosystem types, from mangrove swamps to rainforest to the Simpson Desert on a wide range of soils.[1] The species is most common in Eastern Australia and Southern South Australia. Occurrences throughout the rest of the continent and New Guinea and Timor are largely restricted to coastal regions, watercourses and other locales with more reliable water supplies. It was this association with water that gave rise to the name Water Bush.[2] The plant was initially described by Scottish botanist Robert Brown in 1810.[1]
Description
Myoporum montanum grows as a hairless shrub or small tree, up to 8 metres tall. The species is extremely variable in size growth habit and leaf form, with three primary forms recognised. M. montanum has been considered by some authors to encompass, or be a subspecies of Myoporum acuminatum.[1] The species are difficult to distinguish, being closely related with an overlapping range. M. montanum has smaller, narrower leaves, the flower sepals of M. montanum lack the translucent margins of M. acuminatum and the fruit of M. montanum is pink or light purple compared with the dark purple or blue fruit of M. acuminatum.[1]
Flowers and fruit
Flowers feature five or rarely six white or occasionally light pink or purple petals, which may have rows of purple spots on petal or the corolla tube. Flowers have a sweet scent. They grow in clusters from the leaf axils.[1]
The fruit is a smooth or slightly rough drupe. They are ovoid in shape, 5 to 8 mm in diameter, light purple, red purple or brown in colour. Remnants of the flower style point out of the fruit.[1] The fruit are a food source for a variety of birds, including emus, and were eaten by Aborigines.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Chinnock, R. J. (2007). Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae. Adelaide: The Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium of South Australia. p. 99. ISBN 978-1-877058-16-5.
- ↑ "MYOPORUM montanum Western Boobialla: Australian Native K-Z - N 231 - Australian Seed Fresh viable seed, Australian native, exotic, flower and organic vegetable". Australianseed.com. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- ↑ Cribb, A.B. & Cribb, J.W. (1975) Wild Food in Australia. Sydney: Collins