Family: Santalaceae
Leptomeria aphylla
Citation:
R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 353 (1810).
Synonymy: L. pungens F. Muell., J. Trans. Vict. Inst. 1:41 (1855).
Common name: Leafless currant-bush.
Description:
Divaricately branched or less often virgate shrub usually 1-1.5 m high; branches rigid, usually spine-tipped although often bluntly so, almost always leafless, terete and smooth or slightly wrinkled, usually olive-green.
Spike-like racemes dense at first, 3-10 mm long, usually fewer than 20-flowered; bracts enclosing each flower at first but very early caducous, ovate-lanceolate, toothed near the summit; perianth purplish, c. 0.5 mm long; ovary c. 1 mm long.
Fruit a succulent drupe, ovoid, 3-8 mm long, greenish, usually 1 or 2 developing in each raceme.
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Image source: fig. 84a in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Published illustration:
Cochrane et al. (1968) Flowers and plants of Victoria, fig. 87; Rotherham et al. (1975) Flowers and plants of New South Wales and southern Queensland, fig. 439.
Distribution:
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S.Aust.: EP, NL, MU, SL, KI, SE. N.S.W.; Vic., Tas.
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Conservation status:
native
Flowering time: mainly Jan. — June.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Author:
Not yet available
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