Blackcurrant
Antidesma ghaesembilla Gaertner

Order - Euphorbiales

Family - Euphorbiaceae

Names:

Antidesma

Ghaesembilla

Blackcurrant because it has fruit that look like black currants

Other Names:

Summary:

Description:

Cotyledons:

Two.

First leaves:

Leaves:

Stipules -

Petiole -

Blade -

Stem leaves -

Stems:

Flower stem -

Flower head:

Flowers:

Ovary -

Calyx -

Perianth -

Sepals -

Petals -

Stamens -

Anthers -

Fruit:

Seeds:

Roots:

Key Characters:

Biology:

Life cycle:

Perennial shrub or semi deciduous tree.

Physiology:

Reproduction:

Flowering times:

Seed Biology and Germination:

Vegetative Propagules:

Hybrids:

Allelopathy:

Population Dynamics and Dispersal:

Origin and History:

Malaysia. Asia.

Distribution:

ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA.

Habitats:

Climate:

Soil:

Plant Associations:

Significance:

Beneficial:

Edible fruit that are eaten raw or used in jams.

A purple dye that is used for basket weaving. is extracted from it.

Aboriginal food.

Aboriginals used it for gums.

Detrimental:

Toxicity:

Not recorded as toxic.

Legislation:

None.

Management and Control:

Thresholds:

Eradication strategies:

Herbicide resistance:

Biological Control:

Related plants:

Herbert River Cherry (Antidesma dallachyanum)

(Antidesma brunius)

(Antidesma parvifolium)

Plants of similar appearance:

References:

Lazarides, M. and Hince, B. (1993). CSIRO handbook of economic plants of Australia. (CSIRO, Melbourne). #105.3.

Acknowledgments:

Collated by HerbiGuide. Phone 08 98444064 or www.herbiguide.com.au for more information.