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Electronic Flora of South Australia species Fact Sheet

Family: Apocynaceae
Leichhardtia australis

Citation: R. Br. in Sturt, Exped. Centr. Aust., Bot. App. 81 (1849).

Synonymy: Marsdenia leichhardtiana F. Muell., Fragm. Phyt. Aust. 5:150 (1866); M. australis (R. Br.)Druce, Rep. Botl Soc. Exch. Club Br. Isl. 1916, 634 (1917).

Common name: Native pear, austral doubah.

Description:
Climbing twining shrub, with hoary appressed pubescence; leaves subsessile or petioles to c. 1.5 cm long, leaves 3-12 cm long, 2-15 mm wide, young lateral growth often with the leaves densely clustered.

Inflorescence of 6-19 flowers; peduncles and pedicels 3-15 mm long in flower, stouter and longer in fruit; calyx with a pubescent base; sepals ovate, pubescent, with hyaline-ciliate margins; corolla lobes obtuse, c. 2 mm long; corona with 5 fleshy lobes below, often cordate at the base, with linear points above.

Follicles ovoid, 6-10 cm long, 2-3 cm wide, tapering towards the base and the apex, base truncate, apex mucronate; seeds pale-brown, .obovate, flattish, 7-8 mm long, coma c. 3-4 cm long.

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 554.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: NW, LE, NU, GT, FR, EA, EP, MU.   W.Aust.; N.T.; N.S.W.; Vic.

Conservation status: native

Flowering time: spring and summer.


SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: Called "native pear" by bushmen, from the shape of the fruit, which is eaten by aboriginals. Growing in drier areas of Australia, usually near watercourses.

Author: Not yet available


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