Astroloma humifusum (Cav.) R.Br.

Species

Angiosperms > Ericales > Ericaceae > Astroloma

Characteristics

A small shrub which is close to the ground. It grows 10-30 cm tall and spread 60-100 cm wide. It has many branches. The leaves are narrow and stiff. They have a spine at the tip. Leaves are 5-12 mm long with hairy edges. The flowers are like tubes and are bright red. The fruit are greenish and 7-11 mm across. The fruit can often have purplish spots or stripes. There is one large stone inside. The fruit is edible.
Life form perennial
Growth form shrub
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention evergreen
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination -
Spread -
Mature width (meter) 0.55 - 0.75
Mature height (meter) 0.1 - 0.15
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color -
Blooming months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Fruit color -
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway c3

Environment

It is a temperate plant. It grows naturally in heathlands and woodlands on sandy and stony soil. It can grow in moist well-drained or dry soils. It can stand heavy frosts. It suits shady understorey locations. Hobart Botanical Gardens. Tasmania Herbarium.
More
Often grows in disturbed sites on ridges and slopes in dry sclerophyll forest, over sandstone, shales or basalt. In heathland and open forests. Also found on cleared land in a range of soils including sandstone, shale and heavy clay.
Light 7-9
Soil humidity 1-6
Soil texture 1-6
Soil acidity 3-7
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 8-9

Usage

The fruit are eaten. They can also be used for jam.
Uses environmental use food
Edible fruits
Therapeutic use -
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

It can be grown from cuttings but this is not easy. Tip cuttings are used.
Mode cuttings seedlings
Germination duration (days) -
Germination temperacture (C°) -
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Astroloma humifusum unspecified picture

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:324894-1
WFO ID wfo-0000554951
COL ID J4DM
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Astroloma humifusum Astroloma denticulatum Astroloma humifusum var. denticulatum Ventenatia humifusa