Rhodamnia rubescens

(Benth.) Miq.

Scrub turpentine, Brown mallet-wood

Myrtaceae Edible: Fruit 1,823 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-sa

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

iNaturalist· cc-by-sa

Summary

Rhodamnia rubescens, the scrub stringybark, brush turpentine, or brown malletwood, is an evergreen rainforest tree of the myrtle family Myrtaceae, that is native to Eastern Australia. Identified by a stringy type of bark and triple-veined leaves, it grows in a variety of different rainforests from the Batemans Bay region (35° S) of southeastern New South Wales to Gympie (27° S) in southeastern Queensland. It is not seen in the cool temperate rainforests. The pathogen myrtle rust threatens the existence of Rhodamnia rubescens.

Description

A tree. It can grow to 25 m tall. The trunk is 75 cm across. The leaves are simple and opposite. They are 5-10 cm long. The flowers are white and have a scent. The fruit is a small berry. It is red and turns a shiny black when ripe. They are 6 mm across.

Edible Uses

The fruit is eaten.

Traditional Uses

The fruit is eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Andamans, Asia, Australia, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia,

Synonyms

Now Rhodamnia rubescensRhodamnia cinerea Jack? Rhodamnia trinervia Reinw. ex Blume

Also Known As

Mempoyan, Mempoyan batu, Tempoyan, Sempoyan, Poyan, Mengkoyan, Sedomang, Daun je-ing, Daun jaing, Resak babi, Andong, Ki beusi, Merapin, Plawng ki ta, Plawng samet

References (4)

Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 521 (As Rhodamnia trinervia)
Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 1936 (As Rhodamnia trinervia)
Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 144 (As Rhodamnia trinervia)
Leiper, G & Houser, J., Mutooroo. Plant Use by Australian Aboriginal People. Assembly press, Queensland. (As Rhodamnia trinervia)