Decaspermum humile
Encyclopedia
Decaspermum humile, commonly known as the Silky Myrtle, is a tree from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

 and Asia. It can be used as bush food, as indicated by the alternate common name of Currant Myrtle. The tree features an attractive dark glossy crown. The new pink leaves with silvery hairs are particularly appealing.

Taxonomy

First described as Nelitris humilis by Scottish botanist George Don
George Don
George Don was a Scottish botanist.George Don was born at Doo Hillock, Forfar, Angus, Scotland on 29 April 1797. His father, also named George Don, was Superintendent of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 1802 and his mother was Caroline Clementina Stuart. George was the elder brother of David...

 in 1832, it gained its current name in 1980 when reclassified in the genus Decaspermum. Decaspermum refers to "ten seeds" as is often the case with this plant. Humile refers to small or lowly, as it's often seen as a bush or small tree. However, this is not always the case, as some examples of Decaspermum humile can reach 25 metres (80 ft) tall.

Description

A shrub or small tree, occasionally reaching 25 metres (80 ft) in height and a stem diameter of 45 cm (18 in). The trunk is often angled, crooked or fluted. Larger specimens may be slightly buttressed at the base. The bark is rough and brown, but with light papery vertical scales. Small branches are covered with silvery hairs, which later become fibrous and have a red brown colour.

Leaves

The leaves are 2 to 8 cm (0.8–3.6 in) long, and 1.5 to 3 cm (0.6–1.2 in) wide. In the typical shape of the lilly pilly group, it may easily be confused in the field with plants of the genus Syzygium
Syzygium
Syzygium is a genus of flowering plants that belongs to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. The genus comprises about 1100 species, and has a native range that extends from Africa and Madagascar through southern Asia east through the Pacific...

. The leaves are arranged oppositely on the stem, and are entire, ovate to lanceolate with a prominent drip tip. The leaf margins are rolled over as in the Purple Cherry
Syzygium crebrinerve
Syzygium crebrinerve is a fairly common Australian tree, growing from near Taree, New South Wales to Calliope in Queensland . Common names include Purple Cherry, Rose Satinash, and Black Water Gum...

 and contrasting to the flat margins with the Python Tree
Gossia bidwillii
Gossia bidwillii, known as the Python Tree is a rainforest myrtle of eastern Australia. The usual habitat is the drier rainforest areas...

 and Scrub Ironwood
Gossia acmenoides
Gossia acmenoides, known as the Scrub Ironwood, is a rainforest tree of the family Myrtaceae, native to eastern Australia. The usual habitat of this small tree is drier rainforest areas...

. Leaves are dark green on both sides, though somewhat less glossy under the leaf. New leaves are pink with silvery hairs.

Oil dots are tiny and hard to determine. The leaf stalk is between 3 and 7 mm long. Leaf venation is generally unclear apart from the midrib, being raised on both sides. However, the lateral veins are practically invisible. Net veins are not seen, although there is an indistinct intra-marginal vein around the edge of the leaf.

Flowers, fruit & regeneration

The white or pale mauve flowers form in thyrses in March to May, though occasionally as late as October. Flowers forming either from the leaf axils or from the ends of branchlets. The fruit is a black round berry, crowned by calyx lobes. Inside the fruit are around ten seeds, 3 to 6 mm in diameter. The fruit matures from May to November. Regeneration can yield good results if the flesh is removed from the seed. Soaking may also assist in drowning insect larvae. After three months around half of the seeds may germinate. Cuttings have also proven successful.

Distribution and habitat

The habitat is the drier rainforests, usually on shallow rocky soils of a volcanic origin. Common Australian associate species are the Python Tree
Gossia bidwillii
Gossia bidwillii, known as the Python Tree is a rainforest myrtle of eastern Australia. The usual habitat is the drier rainforest areas...

 and Scrub Ironwood
Gossia acmenoides
Gossia acmenoides, known as the Scrub Ironwood, is a rainforest tree of the family Myrtaceae, native to eastern Australia. The usual habitat of this small tree is drier rainforest areas...

. It is found as far south as Ourimbah, New South Wales
Ourimbah, New South Wales
Ourimbah is a small township and a suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located about north of the Sydney CBD. The township today consists of small scattered local shops and businesses along the Pacific Highway, as well as the Central Coast campus of the University of...

 to north Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...

. Also seen in south-east Asia and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. It is the only member of its genus to reach Australia.

Cultivation

The attractive furrowed bark, glossy foliage and fragrant flowers give the species horticultural potential. It is suitable as an indoor plant
Houseplant
A houseplant is a plant that is grown indoors in places such as residences and offices. Houseplants are commonly grown for decorative purposes, positive psychological effects, or health reasons such as indoor air purification...

 or in a tub planting.
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