Parsonsia purpurascens— Black Silkpod—APOCYNACEAE
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Habitat—In temperate rainforest (sometimes with Nothofagus moorei or Ceratopetalum apetalum) and in tall eucalypt forest, usually 900-1150 m altitude. Distribution— North from the plateau west of Wollongong to Dorrigo in New South Wales. Description— Twiner to 5 m high, sap watery. Local occurrences— Tapin Tops National Park
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Leaves.— Simple, opposite, latex present, lanceolate to ovate, 4 to 14 cm long, 1.5 to 4 cm wide, apex acute or acuminate, glabrous, firm, of moderate thickness, green or purplish when fresh, both surfaces purple or purplish black when dried; coarser reticulum visible; petiole mostly 5 to 20 mm long. |
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Inflorescence.—Flowers about 5 mm across, on pedicels 4 to 7 mm long, in open panicles. Corolla lobes narrow–ovate, mucronate, c. 2 mm long, spreading, bearded at base inside; tube c. 1.8 mm long. Anther cone with tip exserted; filaments straight. Flowering.—Summer and Autumn |
Fruit.—Capsule 7 to 10 cm long, slender, blackish when dry. Ripe.—Late Winter and Spring. |
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