| Botanical Name: Alchornea ilicifolia (Euphorbiaceae). |
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Image - Alchornea ilicifolia - foliage and fruit - graham Stephens © 2002
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| Common Name: Native Holly. |
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| Distribution: Illawarra, Sth NSW to Atherton, Nth Qld. |
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| Habitat: Subtropical and Dry rainforest. |
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| Form: Large shrub up to 5m tall. |
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| Leaves: Leaves are ovoid/rhomboidal, simple, alternate and angled with spines at each angle apex. Leaf texture is rigid and leathery. |
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| Flower: Flowers are small creamish/green axillary racemes, male and female flowers on separate plants from November-December. |
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| Fruit: Fruit is a brown, three lobed capsule splitting to reveal one seed. Ripe September-November or throughout the year. |
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| Garden Use: It is mainly grown for its ornamental foliage. It also has flushes of red new growth throughout the year. |
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| Edible?: No. |
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| Propagation: Propagate from fresh seed and cuttings which strike readily. |
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| Comments: This is an exceptionally hardy plant, though can be slow growing. Useful as an understorey plant in rainforest plantings. |
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