Myrsine howittiana, the brush muttonwood [2]ormuttonwood,[3] is a shrub or small tree in the family Primulaceae. The species is endemic to eastern Australia.[2][4]
| Myrsine howittiana | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Primulaceae |
| Genus: | Myrsine |
| Species: |
M. howittiana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Myrsine howittiana | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Rapanea howittiana Mez | |
It grows to between 3 and 10 metres in height and has smooth, often whitish, bark.[3] The buds of new growth are covered with rusty-coloured hairs. The leaves are obovate to elliptic in shape and between 4 and 13 cm long and 2 to 4 cm wide.[2] These are shiny with wavy edges and a duller undersurface and have petioles that are 7 to 14 mm in length.[2] Greenish-white to cream flowers are produced in spring and summer.[2] These are followed by blue or mauve fruits which are 5 to 7 mm in diameter and ripen between December and June.[2]
The species is pollinated by a thrips (thunderfly), Thrips setipennis.[5] The species occurs from southern Victoria (37° S), northwards through New South WalestoFraser Island (25° S) in Queensland often in areas where rainforest interfaces with moist open forest.[2]
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