Eustrephus latifolius:
* Wombat berry *
Common Names: Wombat berry
Taxonomy: Kingdom: Plantae; Angiosperms; Monocots; Asparagales; Asparagaceae; Lomandroideae; Geitonosplesiaceae; Eustrephus laifolius.
Location/Environment:
Native to Malaysia, Eastern Australia (especially Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria), New Guinea, New Caledonia, and the Pacific Islands. Common in sclerophyll dry or wet forests, woodlands, heaths, marginal rainforests, and gallery forests.
Description:
Coming from the Greek “Eustrephus” meaning “to twist” and describing its twining habit of the vines. Latifolius meaning having broad leaves. A monotypic genus of the Asparagaceae and Lomandroideae families it is a sole species that is an evergreen vine that vigorously twines and scrambles as ground cover. Vine gives sprout to lamina variable shaped elliiptic, lance-shaped, to linear leaves ranging from 3-10 cm in length and 3-35 mm in width. The veins of the leaves are equally distinct. The leaves in the Spring give blossom to 15 mm diameter pink, mauve, and/or white flowers with 1-2 cm diameter yellow-orange globose capsules with black seeds set in a white aril. The fruits remain on the plant for several months.
Cultivation:
Propagated best from fresh young seed.
Common Uses:
Culinary:
Fleshy roots are edible. Tubers are baked and eaten. They are notable to have an earthy sweet flavor.
Medicinal:
Folklore and Magic:
Mythology:
NOTE: This article is in constant state of research, updating, and evolution. If you have information to add, please submit to [email protected]
Bibliography/Recommended Reading:
Photos from:
Australian National Botanical Gardens*
Canberra, Australia Capital Territory, Australia *
Bibliography and Recommended Reading:
- Absolute Astronomy ~ Eustrephus; by unknown author; notes taken from web site in 2011; Absolute Astronomy; www.absoluteastronomy.com.
- Australian National Botanical Gardens ~ Eustrephus latifolius; by unknown author; notes take from web site in 2011; ANBG: www.anbg.gov.au.
- Australian Native Plants Society ~ Eustrephus latifolius; by unknown author; notes taken from web site in 2011; ANPSA; www.anpsa.org.au.
- Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust ~ Eustrephus latifolius; by unknown author; notes taken from web site in 2011; RBGSYN: www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au.
- Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia ~ Eustrephus latifolius; by unknown author; notes taken from web site in 2011; wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org.
- Australian Native Plants Society ~ Eustrephus latifolius; by unknown author; notes taken from web site in 2011; ANPSA; www.anpsa.org.au.
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