Creek bank tree

Small to medium tree to 15 m. Common and abundant in littoral, riverine rainforest. Green, pale and slightly fragrant flowers in September to December. The fruit is a purplish black fleshy drupe. Attracts birds. Dense crown of dark-green leaves. Propagate from fresh seed, removed from the flesh. Germination is reliable and takes up to two months. Fruit eaten by Topknot Pigeon. Large tree in the wild and important for butterflies. This specimen on Fish Creek opposite Romea Street is distinctly hairy (var. pubescens). Attractive small bushy tree for average-sized gardens.

Foliage. Photo: Robert Whyte

Recorded as host plant for Emperor Gum Moth Opodiphthera eucalypti on the Australian caterpillars web site by Don Herbison-Evans and Stella Crossley.

Hairy new growth. Photo: Robert Whyte

Seed collecting and propagation

This tree does not produce fruit every year. The fruit is a purplish black fleshy drupe which is ripe March to May. The seed is 12-18 mm wide with a single wrinkled seed. Propagate from fresh seed, removed from the flesh. Germination is reliable and takes up to two months.

Fruit. Photo: Mark Marathon CC BY-SA 4.0