Family: Violaceae (Violet Family).
Native of eastern Australia.
Other names: fomerly known as Hymenanthera dentata.Occurrence: Widespread. Uncommon to rare in heathy dry forests. A common shrub of the basalt plains.
Identification:
- it is a spiny shrub
- the branches of old plants are often covered with lichen
- the flowers are pale yellow bells about 4 mm long
- the leaves are slightly toothed
- the fruit is a small (5 mm) grey berry with purple marks when ripe.
Similar species: *Boxthorn is a spiny shrub. It has shorter, green untoothed leaves, pale bluish flowers, and a green fruit that turns red when ripe. Sweet Bursaria is less spiny, and has white flowers in summer. Its fruit are flat and heart-shaped and turn dark brown when ripe.
Photos 1, 5: In flower. Wangaratta.
2: Tree Violet in flower. Wrightley.
3: Branches are often lichen-covered. Basalt plain at Barfold.
4: In fruit. Wangaratta.
