Alyxia orophila
| Alyxia orophila | |
|---|---|
| |
| Flowers | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Alyxia |
| Species: | A. orophila
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| Binomial name | |
| Alyxia orophila | |
Alyxia orophila, commonly known as chain fruit or mountain alyxia, is a species of plant in the oleander and frangipani family Apocynaceae. It is native to the Wet Tropics bioregion of Queensland, Australia, and was first described in 1928.
Description
Alyxia orophila is a shrub growing to a height of about 5 m (16 ft). The leaves are stiff with a sharp point at the tip, and are arranged in whorls of three or four. They measure up to 5 cm (2.0 in) long and 2.5 cm (0.98 in) wide, the edges are curved downwards, and the lateral veins are obscure. The leaves and twigs produce a white sap when broken.[4][5]
Flowers are produced in dense clusters and they measure up to 10 mm (0.39 in) wide and long. The fruits are drupes, usually with two connected end to end like beads on a string.[4][5]
Taxonomy
This species was first described by Czech botanist Karel Domin in 1928.[2][6]
Distribution and habitat
It occurs in mountain rainforest at altitudes from 1,100 to 1,500 m (3,600 to 4,900 ft), from Ngalba Bulal National Park south to Tully Falls National Park.[4][7]
Conservation
This species is listed as least concern under the Queensland Government's Nature Conservation Act.[1] As of 21 October 2025, it has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
References
- ^ a b "Taxon - Alyxia orophila (mountain alyxia)". Wildnet. Queensland Government. 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Alyxia orophila Domin". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ "Alyxia orophila Domin". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ a b c F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Alyxia orophila". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ a b Forster, P.I. (2022). "Alyxia orophila". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ Domin, Karel (1928). "Bibliotheca botanica vol.20, Heft 85". Beitrage zur Flora und Pflanzengeographie Australiens. Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbart. p. 1077. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ "Search: species: Alyxia orophila | Occurrence records". Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Australian Government. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
External links
- Map of herbarium collections of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
- Observations of this species on iNaturalist
- Images of this species on Flickriver.com