Clerodendrum floribundum
Encyclopedia
Clerodendrum floribundum, known as the Lolly Bush or Smooth Clerodendrum, is a shrub or tree found in Australia
and New Guinea
. The habitat is in or at the margins of coastal rainforests, up to 300 metres above sea level. In Western Australia
it grows in drier areas; such as rocky sites, gorges, cliffs, floodplains and creek beds.
The leaves may be drawn into a blunt tip, a prickle or a sharp tip. Leaves variable in shape, usually 4 to 15 cm long, 2 to 6 cm wide. The young leaves are not as hairy as with the related Downy Chance
. The generic term Clerodendrum is from the Greek. Meaning "lottery tree". Dendros meaning tree. The lottery refers to an unsure possibility of a medicinal value from plants of this genus. The specific epithet floribundum refers to the abundance of flowers in showy heads. The common name Lolly Bush, refers to the similarity of the red and black fruit to lollies
.
Usually a small tree, however it has been recorded at 30 metres tall and a stem diameter of 30 cm at Booyong Flora Reserve
, in northern New South Wales
. White fragrant flowers form in cymes between September and December.
There is some debate whether this plant is found in rainforests of the Illawarra
. A.G.Floyd says it is found as far south as Batemans Bay and growing north to Cape York
at the northern most point of the continent. Then west through the Northern Territory
and Western Australia
. However, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
say records in the far south east may not be accurate.
The leaves are host to the caterpillar of the Fiery Jewel Butterfly.
An ornamental species, with red and black fruit. The fruit is a black drupe
, growing on an enlarged red fleshy calyx. It appears glossy and succulent, giving rise to the common name.
Regeneration is from fresh seeds or cuttings. An easy plant to grow, requiring plenty of water. In 1810, this species first appeared in scientific literature, in the Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, authored by the prolific Scottish botanist, Robert Brown
. Originally collected on the voyage of Captain Cook's ship, the Endeavour
.
several varieties appear in publications, such as:
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 New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. The habitat is in or at the margins of coastal rainforests, up to 300 metres above sea level. In Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
it grows in drier areas; such as rocky sites, gorges, cliffs, floodplains and creek beds.
The leaves may be drawn into a blunt tip, a prickle or a sharp tip. Leaves variable in shape, usually 4 to 15 cm long, 2 to 6 cm wide. The young leaves are not as hairy as with the related Downy Chance
Clerodendrum tomentosum
Clerodendrum tomentosum, known as the Downy Chance, Hairy Lolly Bush, or Hairy Clerodendrum is a shrub or small tree occurring in eastern and northern Australia. Distributed from Batemans Bay in southern coastal New South Wales to Cape York Peninsula at the northern most point of the continent...
. The generic term Clerodendrum is from the Greek. Meaning "lottery tree". Dendros meaning tree. The lottery refers to an unsure possibility of a medicinal value from plants of this genus. The specific epithet floribundum refers to the abundance of flowers in showy heads. The common name Lolly Bush, refers to the similarity of the red and black fruit to lollies
Candy
Candy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water, to which flavorings and colorants are added...
.
Usually a small tree, however it has been recorded at 30 metres tall and a stem diameter of 30 cm at Booyong Flora Reserve
Booyong Flora Reserve
Booyong Flora Reserve is a 13 hectare sub tropical jungle remnant of the Big Scrub. Far less than one percent of the original Big Scrub now remains. This remnant is situated 18 kilometres north east of Lismore in New South Wales, Australia....
, in northern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. White fragrant flowers form in cymes between September and December.
There is some debate whether this plant is found in rainforests of the Illawarra
Illawarra
Illawarra is a region in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a coastal region situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the Shoalhaven or South Coast region. It encompasses the cities of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and the town of Kiama. The central region contains Lake...
. A.G.Floyd says it is found as far south as Batemans Bay and growing north to Cape York
Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located in Far North Queensland at the tip of the state of Queensland, Australia, the largest unspoilt wilderness in northern Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth...
at the northern most point of the continent. Then west through the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
and Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. However, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia, are the most central of the three major botanical gardens open to the public in Sydney....
say records in the far south east may not be accurate.
The leaves are host to the caterpillar of the Fiery Jewel Butterfly.
An ornamental species, with red and black fruit. The fruit is a black drupe
Drupe
In botany, a drupe is a fruit in which an outer fleshy part surrounds a shell of hardened endocarp with a seed inside. These fruits develop from a single carpel, and mostly from flowers with superior ovaries...
, growing on an enlarged red fleshy calyx. It appears glossy and succulent, giving rise to the common name.
Regeneration is from fresh seeds or cuttings. An easy plant to grow, requiring plenty of water. In 1810, this species first appeared in scientific literature, in the Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, authored by the prolific Scottish botanist, Robert Brown
Robert Brown (botanist)
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
. Originally collected on the voyage of Captain Cook's ship, the Endeavour
HMS Endeavour
HMS Endeavour may refer to one of the following ships:In the Royal Navy:, a 36-gun ship purchased in 1652 and sold in 1656, a 4-gun bomb vessel purchased in 1694 and sold in 1696, a fire ship purchased in 1694 and sold in 1696, a storeship hoy purchased in 1694 and sold in 1705, a storeship...
.
several varieties appear in publications, such as:
- Clerodendrum floribundum var. floribundum
- Clerodendrum floribundum var. attenuatum
- Clerodendrum floribundum var. latifolium
- Clerodendrum floribundum var. coriaceum
- Clerodendrum floribundum var. angustifolium