Practical
Plants

Myoporum tetrandrum

Boobialla

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Myoporum genus in the family Myoporaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Although no records of toxicity have been found for this species, the fruits of at least some members of this genus are known to contain liver toxins and can be harmful in large quantities[4].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[6][8]. The fruit is about 4 - 6mm in diameter[5]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on possible toxicity.

Plant part
Fruit

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Plants can be used right on the coast as a protective screen from maritime winds, the roots also help to check coastal erosion[2].

Ecology and functions

Hedge

Earth stabiliser

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria.
Habitat
By the coast in basalt, silurian and red sand areas[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for their first few winters outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up in the autumn. Good percentage[9].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Easily grown in most soils[3]. Succeeds in dry soils[5]. Resists maritime exposure[2]. This species is not very hardy in mainland Britain, it succeeds outdoors on the Scilly Isles but usually requires greenhouse protection elsewhere. A polymorphic species[1]. Planted for shelter in Portugal, especially by the coast, and it is locally naturalized there[7]. There is some confusion over this name. Most of the entries on this record were listed under M. serratum, which is listed here as a synonym of this species. However, [2] says that M. serratum is a synonym of M. insulare, which has been treated here as a separate and distinct species.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Holliday. I. and Hill. R. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller Ltd. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-85179-627-3

    ↩

  4. Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302

    ↩

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  6. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  7. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  8. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  9. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

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