Spiky shrub

Shrub to 2.5 metres in most types of rainforest sometimes in sclerophyll forest north from Wollongong, NSW. Leaves opposite in whorls of 3-6, narrow-lanceolate to broad-ovate, smooth, leathery, glossy, margins slightly recurved. Flowers white, fragrant, in terminal heads, five petals and five sepals.

Photo: Robert Whyte

Habit

Alyxia is an Australasian genus with 106 species from the Dogbane family Apocynaceae. It consists of shrubs, climbers or scramblers (a plant with long stems, often with thorns to help it support itself as it climbs through shrubs). There are 14 species in Australia, 21 in New Caledonia and 7 in the other Pacific Islands, including Hawaii.

Photo: Robert Whyte

Habitat

Chain Fruit Alyxia ruscifolia is very common on dry hillsides where eucalyptus sclerophyll forest merges with dry rainforest habitat.

Foliage, Immature Fruit Photo: Robert Whyte

Foliage and Fruit

Fruit of 1–3 more or less globose articles, 8–11 mm in diameter, orange to red. Alyxia ruscifolia is a drought tolerant, spiky plant worthy of planting in greater Brisbane as a lantana substitute. It could be a useful hedge plant, if somewhat slow growing.

Photo: Robert Whyte

Seed collecting and propagation

Fruit ripens in summer. It’s easy to spot the orange to bright red fruit when mature and sometimes joined in chains of a few fruits. Look for berries that are round, full, and have changed color, often softening or wrinkling as they mature. Cold soak one week, remove flesh and air dry thoroughly. Propagate from fresh seed or cuttings. Both methods are slow to propagate and grow on.