Discover Nature at JCU Plants Plants by scientific name A-F Alphitonia petriei

Alphitonia petriei

Image of Alphitonia petrei

(Pink Ash, Sarsaparilla, Red Ash)

FAMILY

Rhamnaceae

Species

Alphitonia petriei

Common name(s)

Pink Ash, Sarsaparilla, Red Ash

Flower colour; life form

Flowers white; tree

Campus

Cairns

Description

A tree of wetter areas, when twigs are scratched they produce a strong smell of linament or sarsparilla. Stipules 1-3 mm long. Leaves alternate, lanceolate, whitish on the lower surface the result of densely intertwined hairs, hairs along the veins often rusty, venation prominent. Flowers white, petals small hooded over the stamens. Fruit an indehiscent capsule, black, to 8 mm long, to 15 mm wide.