Gossia hillii

(Benth.) N. Snow & Guymer

Scaly myrtle, Scrub Ironwood, Hill's ironwood, Hill's lignum

Myrtaceae Edible: Fruit, Seeds 377 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A tall shrub. It grows 3-5 m high and spreads 2-4 m wide. It can be a tree to 20 m tall with buttresses. The leaves are 2.5-5 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. They are oval and dark green. The flowers are 1 cm across. They are white. They occur singly in the axils of leaves. The flower stalks are 2.5 cm long. The fruit is a berry about 1 cm across. It is black and shiny with white pulp. The fruit are edible.

Edible Uses

The fruit and seeds are edible.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It needs a partly shady position and a well drained soil. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 1120 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Notes

There are 14 Austromyrtus species. They occur in Australia.

References (8)

Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 120 (As Austromyrtus hillii)
Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 198 (As Austromyrtus hillii)
Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 346
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1982, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 2. Lothian. p 262 (As Austromyrtus hillii)
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 36 (As Austromyrtus hillii)

Show all 8 references

Jones D, L, 1986, Ornamental Rainforest Plants in Australia, Reed Books, p 65 (As Austromyrtus hillii)
Low, T., 1991, Wild Food Plants of Australia. Australian Nature FieldGuide, Angus & Robertson. p 35 (As Austromyrtus hillii)
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 113 (As Austromyrtus hillii)