Aristotelia peduncularis

Aristotelia peduncularis, also known as heartberry,[2] is a shrub in the family Elaeocarpaceae, endemic to the wet forests of Tasmania[1]

Aristotelia peduncularis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Oxalidales
Family: Elaeocarpaceae
Genus: Aristotelia
Species:
A. peduncularis
Binomial name
Aristotelia peduncularis
Synonyms[1]

Description

Aristotelia peduncularis is a straggly woody monoecious shrub with slender arching branches, reaching up to 1.5 metres in height[3]

Leaves vary in size from 2 to 7 centimetres and are generally ovate to lanceolate with toothed margins, though they may occasionally be deeply lobed[3]. They are held opposite, alternate, or in whorls of three[4]

Flowers occur in summer and are bisexual, white and campanulate, held singly (or sometimes in a group of 2-3) from long peduncles at axils.[3][5] Each petal is triple-lobed, forming a fringe, and the inside of the flower may have some pink-purple markings[3]

The fruit is a fleshy, roughly heart shaped berry, ranging in colour from deep purple-black through to red, pink and white.[2][3]

Distribution

This species is found only, but is widespread, within Tasmania,[6] occurring more commonly in the south.[5] It can be found in relative abundance in the understorey of wet forests where conditions are consistently moist and shady,[2][3] often on mountain slopes and in fern gullies (60-600m)[5]

References
  1. "Vascular Plants". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  2. "Key to Tasmanian Dicots". www.utas.edu.au. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  3. Howells, Christine, ed. (2012). Tasmania's Natural Flora. Hobart, Tasmania: Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc., Hobart Group. p. 120. ISBN 9780909830663.
  4. "Species information: Aristotelia peduncularis". www.utas.edu.au. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  5. Coode, M. J. E. (1985). "Aristotelia and Vallea, Closely Related in Elaeocarpaceae". Kew Bulletin. 40 (3): 479–507. doi:10.2307/4109610. JSTOR 4109610.
  6. "Communities". www.understorey-network.org.au. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
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