Myoporum insulare, commonly known as common boobialla, native juniper,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to coastal areas of Australia. It is a shrub or small tree which grows on dunes and coastal cliffs, is very salt tolerant and widely used in horticulture.
Boobialla varies in form from a prostrate shrub to a small, erect tree growing to a height of 6 m (20 ft). It has thick, smooth green leaves which are 30–90 mm (1.2–3.5 in) long and 7–22 mm (0.28–0.87 in) wide with edges that are either untoothed or toothed toward the apex. The leaves are egg-shaped and the upper and lower surfaces are the same dull green colour.[4][5][6]
White flowers with purple spots appear in the leaf axils in clusters of three to eight and are 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) in diameter. There are five glabrous, smooth sepals and the tube formed by the petals is 2.3–3.6 mm (0.091–0.142 in) long with the lobes of the tube about the same length. The four stamens usually extend slightly beyond the tube. Peak flowering times are July to February in Western Australia and October to December in south-eastern Australia. Flowering is followed by the fruit which is a smooth, rounded purple to black drupe 4.5–9 mm (0.18–0.35 in) in diameter.[4][5][6][7]
Myoporum insulare was first formally described by botanist Robert Brown in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae in 1810.[8][9] The specific epithet insulare is a Latin word meaning "from an island".[10]
Myoporum insulare occurs in coastal areas of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.[4] In New South Wales it occurs from Eden southward, although an isolated occurrence was recorded much further north on Brush Island.[7] It is also found on Lord Howe Island.[7][11] In Victoria it is found in coastal areas but also inland in the west of that state.[12] Boobialla is common along the coast of South Australia[3] and in Western Australia it occurs south from Shark Bay to the South Australian border.[13] It grows in sandy soils, often between rocks or near sandstone.[7][13] Myoporum insulare is invasive in several African countries and in the western coastal areas of the US. Invasive populations may include some other species of this genus. In South Africa this species is known as manatoka.[14]
Myoporum insulare may be used as a fast-growing hedge or windbreak species which withstands coastal winds and drought.[15] It is hardy in well-drained positions and is easily propagated from cuttings.[16] It is also used as rootstock for propagating many Eremophila species.[17]
The purple fruit is edible,[18] and is good for making jams and jellies.[19]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Myoporum insulare, commonly known as common boobialla, native juniper, is a species of flowering plant in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to coastal areas of Australia. It is a shrub or small tree which grows on dunes and coastal cliffs, is very salt tolerant and widely used in horticulture.
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Fruit and flowers
Il mioporo insulare (Myoporum insulare R.Br.) è una pianta arbustiva appartenente alla famiglia delle Myoporaceae (inglobata nella famiglia Scrophulariaceae, tribù Myoporeae, dalla classificazione APG).[1][2]
La pianta è una sempreverde dal fusto glabro, con una corteccia grigio-brunastra. Fiorisce tra marzo e maggio.[3][4]
Le foglie sono verdi e lanceolate (1-3 x 5–10 cm), mentre i fiori hanno peduncoli di 5–10 mm; il calice è di 2 mm, con punte acuminate-subaristate; la corolla ha un diametro di 10–11 mm, con uno stigma di 3 mm e cinque lobi arrotondati. Gli stami sono quattro, con antere giallastre; la drupa è scura, ovoide, e misura 4.5×6 mm.[5][6]
Foglie
Fiori
Infruttescenza
Frutti
La specie è originaria dell'Australia.[1] È stata introdotta come pianta ornamentale, e si è naturalizzata, in Italia, Marocco, Portogallo e Spagna.
In Italia è comune, in Sicilia (a Palermo, Catania, sulla costa meridionale), in Sardegna (nell'isola dell'Asinara e di Tavolara [3]) e nel Lazio, presso Civitavecchia.[6]
Il mioporo insulare (Myoporum insulare R.Br.) è una pianta arbustiva appartenente alla famiglia delle Myoporaceae (inglobata nella famiglia Scrophulariaceae, tribù Myoporeae, dalla classificazione APG).
Myoporum insulare é uma espécie de planta com flor pertencente à família Myoporaceae.
A autoridade científica da espécie é R.Br., tendo sido publicada em Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae 516. 1810.[1]
Trata-se de uma espécie presente no território português, nomeadamente em Portugal Continental.
Em termos de naturalidade é introduzida na região atrás indicada.
Não se encontra protegida por legislação portuguesa ou da Comunidade Europeia.
Myoporum insulare é uma espécie de planta com flor pertencente à família Myoporaceae.
A autoridade científica da espécie é R.Br., tendo sido publicada em Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae 516. 1810.
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