Stylobasium spathulatum

Stylobasium spathulatum ("pebble bush") is a species of xerophytic shrub in the family Surianaceae. It was first described in 1819 by René Louiche Desfontaines and is endemic to the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia. The specific epithet, spathulatum, is a Latin adjective (spathulatus,-a,-um) meaning "spoon-shaped" and refers to the shape of the leaves. The Walmajarri people call this bush Kuparta.

Description

A medium sized shrub. The leaves are alternate and entire. The flowers are in the axils of leaves near the ends of branches. Petals are absent and the sepals are green or brown lobes/ They fuse at the base forming a cup. The fruit is around with a hard stone inside.

Edible Uses

The seeds are eaten.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in arid and semi arid areas. It grows in tropical and temperate areas.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

Plants are wind pollinated.

Notes

There are 3 Stylobasium species.

Nutrition

References (7)

• Cancilla, D., 2018, Ethnobotanical and Ethnozoological Values Desktop Assessment - Eliwana Project. p 15
• Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 191
• Heywood, V.H., Brummitt, R.K., Culham, A., and Seberg, O., 2007, Flowering Plant Families of the World. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. p 313 (Genus)
• Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat. 5:37, t. 2. 1819
• Morley, B.D., & Toelken, H.R., (Eds), 1983, Flowering Plants in Australia. Rigby. p 194