Appearance

• A shrub or small spindly tree.
• Size: 1 to 4 m tall.
• Leaves: Simple 2.5 to 9 cm long, 2.5 to 5.5 cm wide.  They are distinctively pruinose (frosted in appearance) and the leaf margins are serrated and prickly.
• Flowers: Cream, yellow or red irregular flowers, they are mainly red in the Pilbara region.
• Fruit: Oblong or ellipsoidal, and glabrous (has no hairs).

What to Observe

• First fully open single flower
• Full flowering (record all days)
• End of flowering (when 95% of the flowers have faded)
• Not flowering
• Fruit fully ripened / berry reached full size (record all days)

ClimateWatch Science Advisor

We expect plants to start shooting and flowering earlier in the year as a result of climate change warming the Earth. They may also start appearing in new areas, as warmer temperatures enable them to live in environments that were previously too cold for them.

When To Look

• April to October

Where To Look

• Widespread in northern Western Australia, and inland regions of Northern Territory, South Australia and western Queensland.
• Look around sand or loam, stony or skeletal soils, laterite, sandstone, limestone, and quartzite. It can be found on sand dunes, plains, rocky hills & gullies, cliffs or ridges, along creek lines.

References

Woodley M et al. Wangalili Yindjibarndi and Ngarluma Plants. Juluwaru Aboriginal Corporation.