Gyrostemon ramulosus

Gyrostemon ramulosus is a plant in the family Gyrostemonaceae. It was first described by René Louiche Desfontaines in 1820. It is native to dry zones in Western and South of Australia.

Description

A medium sized shrub. It grows 3-5 m high and spreads 1-3 m wide. The crown is bushy. The bark is thick and corky. The leaves are 2-7 cm long by 0.1 cm wide. They are soft, light green and often wavy. Flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. The male flowers are 0.6 cm across and have 40-100 stamens in 4-7 rows. The female flowers are 0.5 cm across. They are 17-33 carpels. The fruit are 0.8 cm across.

Edible Uses

Grubs associated with the plant are eaten.

Traditional Uses

CAUTION The plant is probably poisonous.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

The plant is probably poisonous.

Distribution

It grows on sand dunes near the coast and sand ridges inland.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Notes

There are 12 Gyrostemon species.

References (9)

• Boomsma, C.D., 1972, Native Tree of South Australia. Woods & Forests Department South Australia, Bulletin No.19. p 196
• Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 190
• Flora of Australia, Volume 8, Lecythidales to Batales, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra (1982) p 367
• Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 118
• Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 126

More from Gyrostemonaceae

Codonocarpus attenuatus

Bell fruit tree, Bell bush

Codonocarpus cotinifolius

Desert poplar, Bell-fruit, Native Poplar, Bell Fruit Tree, Horseradish Tree