Alyxia oblangata

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms  > Eudicots > Asterids > Gentianales > Apocynaceae > Alyxia  oblangata

Other links:    

A oblongata,    A ruscifolia

Plant  information

Common name:        Chainfruit (narrow leaved)

• Also, prickly lixy, or prickly Alyxia

Conservation status:   Least concern

Etymology:   

• The genus name Alyxia is derived from the Greek language word álysos, "chain", which refers to the chain-like appearance of the fruit

• The species epithet oblongata is from "oblong" and again refers to the appearance of the fruit

Flowers:                  

• The flowers are typical of the family, being white with five sepals and petals and a long corolla tube

• They measure about 13 mm long and 17 mm diameter 

Fruit:                         

• Orange/red in colour 

• May be moniliform, i.e. with the appearance of a string of beads

Leaves:         

• Dark and glossy green 

• Bourne in whorls of three or four on twigs

• Measure about 3.5 by 1 cm 

• They are elliptic with a sharp, rigid tip 

• Have up to 20 lateral veins

Stem & branches:       

Roots:         

Habit:        

• An evergreen shrub growing up to 3 m  high

Habitat:   

• In rainforest on volcanic soils of various types

• At altitudes from 100 m to 1,000 m 

Distribution:                  

•  Endemic to northeastern Queensland

• From near Cooktown to the southern Atherton Tablelands

Additional notes:     

• Taxonomy

  • This species was first described in 1928 by the Czech botanist Karel Domin, who published his description in Bibliotheca Botanica

  • In 1992 the Australian botanist Paul Forster redefined it as a subspecies of Alyxia ruscifolia, namely A.r. ssp. major, however this combination is no longer accepted by most authorities

Sources of information:

• (2023)