Alyxia oblongata
| Chain fruit | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Alyxia |
| Species: | A. oblongata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Alyxia oblongata | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| |
Alyxia oblongata, commonly known as the chain fruit, prickly lixy, or prickly Alyxia, is a plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae endemic to a small part of northeastern Queensland.
Description
[edit]Alyxia oblongata is an evergreen shrub growing up to 3 m (9.8 ft) high.[4] The dark glossy green leaves are borne in whorls of three or four on the twigs, and measure about 3.5 by 1 cm (1.38 by 0.39 in).[4] They are elliptic with a sharp, rigid tip and have up to 20 lateral veins.[4]
The flowers are typical of the family, being white with five sepals and petals and a long corolla tube. They measure about 13 mm (0.51 in) long and 17 mm (0.67 in) diameter.[4][5] The fruit are orange/red in colour and may be moniliform, i.e. with the appearance of a string of beads.[4]
Taxonomy
[edit]This species was first described in 1928 by Czech botanist Karel Domin, who published his description in Bibliotheca Botanica. In 1992 Australian botanist Paul Irwin Forster redefined it as a subspecies of Alyxia ruscifolia, namely A.r. ssp. major, however this combination is no longer accepted by most authorities.[2][3][6]
Etymology
[edit]The genus name Alyxia is derived from the Greek word álysos, 'chain', which refers to the chain-like appearance of the fruit. The species epithet oblongata is from 'oblong' and again refers to the appearance of the fruit.[7]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]The chain fruit is endemic to northeastern Queensland, from near Cooktown to the southern Atherton Tablelands. It grows in rainforest on volcanic soils of various types, at altitudes from 100 m (330 ft) to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).[4][5]
Conservation
[edit]This species is listed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern.[1] As of 28 January 2023[update], it has not been assessed by the IUCN.
Gallery
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Foliage -
Ripening fruit -
Unripe fruit -
Foliage
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Species profile—Alyxia oblongata". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Alyxia oblongata". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b c "Alyxia oblongata Domin". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Alyxia oblongata". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b Forster, P.I. (2020). "Alyxia ruscifolia ssp. major". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ "Alyxia ruscifolia subsp. major". World Flora Online. World Flora Online Consortium. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ Cooper, Wendy; Cooper, William T. (June 2004). Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia: Nokomis Editions. p. 33. ISBN 9780958174213.
External links
[edit]
- View a map of historical sightings of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
- View observations of this species on iNaturalist
- View images of this species on Flickriver