Tasmannia purpurascens
(Vickery) A. C. Sm.
Broad leafed pepperbush
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Saoirse Aherne, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Saoirse Aherne
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Solomonfrank, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) annabelle_lidster, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaTasmannia purpurascens, commonly known as the broad-leaved pepperbush, is a shrub in the primitive family Winteraceae and is only found growing in the Barrington Tops and Ben Halls Gap regions of New South Wales. It is locally abundant in a restricted subalpine habitat with high rainfall, often growing in the ecotone in association with Antarctic Beech.
Description
A shrub. It grows 1-3 m tall. The stems have a purple colour. The leaves are broadly sword shaped and 8-18 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. They are green but purple near the base. They tape towards the base. The flower petals are 8-12 mm long and white. The fruit are oval berries 10-15 mm long and blackish purple. There are usually 2-6 on each stalk.
Edible Uses
The seeds are the edible portion of this plant.
Distribution
It is a warm temperate plant. It grows between 1,200-1,520 m above sea level in New South Wales.
Where It Grows
Australia*,
Synonyms
References (4)
- Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 967
- Robins, J., 1996, Wild Lime. Cooking from the Bush food garden. Allen & Unwin p 132
- Nicholson, N & H., 1996, Australian Rainforest Plants 3, Terania Rainforest Publishing. NSW. p 61
- Williams, J.B., Harden, G.J., and McDonald, W.J.F., 1984, Trees and shrubs in rainforests of New South Wales and Southern Queensland. Univ. of New England, Armidale. p 77
