Myrsine howittiana | |
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Primulaceae |
Genus: | Myrsine |
Species: | M. howittiana
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Binomial name | |
Myrsine howittiana | |
Synonyms | |
Rapanea howittiana Mez |
Myrsine howittiana, the brush muttonwood [2] or muttonwood, [3] is a shrub or small tree in the family Primulaceae. The species is endemic to eastern Australia. [2] [4]
It grows to between 3 and 10 metres in height and has smooth, often whitish, bark. [3] The buds of new growth are covered with rusty-coloured hairs. The leaves are obovate to elliptic in shape and between 4 and 13 cm long and 2 to 4 cm wide. [2] These are shiny with wavy edges and a duller undersurface and have petioles that are 7 to 14 mm in length. [2] Greenish-white to cream flowers are produced in spring and summer. [2] These are followed by blue or mauve fruits which are 5 to 7 mm in diameter and ripen between December and June. [2]
The species is pollinated by a thrips (thunderfly), Thrips setipennis. [5] The species occurs from southern Victoria (37° S), northwards through New South Wales to Fraser Island (25° S) in Queensland often in areas where rainforest interfaces with moist open forest. [2]