Characteristics
A small tree. It grows 4-10 m high. The leaves are oval with a blunt tip. They are dark green and shiny above and pale green underneath. They are 2.5-8 cm long by 1-2.5 cm wide. They occur in two regular rows along the branch. The male and female flowers are separate. Male flowers are yellowish and 0.5 cm long. They are in clusters in the axils of leaves. Female flowers are 0.8 cm long and occur either singly or 2-3 in the axils of leaves. Flowers are on the underside of the stem. Fruit are black, oval and fleshy. They are 1.5-2 cm long. There is a single seed about 0.9 cm long. The fruit is edible.
| Life form |
-
|
| Growth form |
shrub
|
| Growth support |
free-standing
|
| Foliage retention |
evergreen
|
| Sexuality |
dioecy
|
| Pollination |
-
|
| Spread |
-
|
| Mature width (meter) |
-
|
| Mature height (meter) |
4.0 - 10.0
|
| Root system |
-
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
|
| Blooming months |
-
|
| Fruit color |
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
-
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
c3
|
Environment
A tropical plant. They need moist conditions and a well-drained soil. Shade is needed when young. In tropical Queensland it grows between 20-1120 m altitude. It grows in drier rainforest. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. Hobart Botanical Gardens.
| Light |
-
|
| Soil humidity |
-
|
| Soil texture |
-
|
| Soil acidity |
-
|
| Soil nutriment |
-
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
-
|
Usage
| Uses |
material
|
| Edible
|
fruits
|
| Therapeutic use
|
-
|
| Human toxicity |
-
|
| Animal toxicity |
-
|
Cultivation
Plants are grown from seed which must be planted fresh.
| Mode |
seedlings
|
| Germination duration (days) |
-
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
-
|
| Germination luminosity |
-
|
| Germination treatment |
-
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
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