Persoonia virgata

R. Br.

Small-leaved Geebung

Proteaceae Edible: Fruit 1,041 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Persoonia virgata is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to coastal areas of eastern Australia. It is usually an erect shrub with smooth bark, hairy young branchlets, linear to narrow spatula-shaped leaves, and yellow flowers borne in groups of up to seventy-five on a rachis up to 230 mm (9.1 in) long that continues to grow after flowering.

Description

A tall shrub. It grows 2-6 m high and 1.5-4 m wide. Young growth is hairy. There are many branches and they are slender and often erect. The small branches are often reddish. The leaves are 2-6 cm long by 0.1-0.5 cm wide. They are alternate. They are bright green. The flowers are 1 cm across and yellow. The fruit are 1.2 cm long by 0.9 cm wide. They are fleshy with a hard stone and turn purple.

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit is eaten when black or purple.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit is eaten when black or purple.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It grows in warm temperate regions. They grow on sandy soils over clays and can be in moist soils or dry forest. They need moist but not waterlogged, acid soils.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed or from cuttings of very young growth.

Notes

There are about 90 Persoonia species. They grow in Australia. Many have fruit which are edible.

References (5)

Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1997, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 7. Lothian. p 233 (Drawing)
Flora of Australia Volume 16, Elaeagnaceae, Proteaceae 1. Melbourne: CSIRO Australia (1995) p 72
Haslam, S., 2004, Noosa's Native Plants. Noosa Integrated Catchment Assn. Inc. p 268
Low, T., 1991, Wild Food Plants of Australia. Australian Nature FieldGuide, Angus & Robertson. p 134
Melzer, R. & Plumb, J., 2011, Plants of Capricornia. Belgamba, Rockhampton. p 283