Citation: Scop., Delic. Fl. Insubr. 3:16, t. 8 (1788).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Wild tobacco tree.

Description:
A large shrub or small tree to 3-4 m high, all parts densely pubescent with a tomentum of stellate hairs, loose and floccose on young growth; leaves variable depending on vigor of plant, c. 10-30 x 4-12 cm, elliptic, acuminate, base cuneate, sometimes slightly unequal, pubescence sparser on leaves above, dense below, distinctly paler below; petiole 3-9 cm long; each leaf with 1 or 2 smaller auricle-like sessile rounded leaflets in its axil, absent on smaller twigs or weak growth.

Inflorescence a dichotomous branched corymb with many flowers; peduncle to 15 cm long to the first fork; pedicels 2-3 mm long; calyx c. 5 mm long, lobes c. 2 mm long, acute, somewhat enlarged in fruit; corolla 1.5-2.5 cm diam., stellate, violet, with a pale 'star' at the base of the corolla; filaments 1-2 mm long; anthers 2-3 mm long, oblong; ovary densely pubescent; style 5-7 mm long, pubescent; stigma green.

Fruit 1-1.5 cm diam., globular, pubescent, becoming almost glabrous with age, finally dull yellowish and soft; seeds 1.5-2 mm wide, light-brown, surface finely reticulate under a lens.

	Flowering and fruiting branch and a fruit.
Image source: fig. 576E in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Symon (1981) J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 4:96.

Distribution:  Sparingly naturalised in the vicinity of Adelaide (Waterfall Gully and Brown Hill Creek) and occasionally adventive in suburban gardens. S.Aust.: EP, SL.   Qld; N.S.W.   native to South America. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: April — Oct.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available