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Bursaria incana
 
Ruler

Distribution Map
Family: Pittosporaceae
Distribution: Throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory with some occurrences in Western Australia. Generally found in open woodland and dry scrubs.
Common Name: Prickly pine
Derivation of
Name:
Bursaria...from Latin, bursa, a purse, alluding to the purse-like seed capsules.
incana...hoary or grey, referring to the underside of the leaves.
Conservation
Status:
Not considered to be at risk in the wild.

General Description:

Bursaria incana is a tall shrub or small, sparse tree, 3-7metres tall. Young branches are covered with soft white hairs and young plants carry thorns. Bark is grey and rough. This species is sometimes regarded as a variety of Bursaria spinosa and some records from southern states presumably refer to the latter species.

Bursaria incana

Bursaria incana

Leaves are oblong, blunt, somewhat pendulous, green above, whitish and hairy beneath, 5-8 cm x 1-3 cm. Flowers are creamy-white, sweetly scented, about 1.2 cm in diameter and borne in large, dense terminal panicles. Flowering period is February to April and the flat, brown seeds are contained in flattened, purse-shaped capsulesto 1cm x 1cm.

Full sun and well drained conditions are required. In the wild this plant tends to become a sparse small tree but judicious pruning and watering should result in a more attractive plant.

Propagation is from from seed, which germinates readily, or cuttings.


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Updated: Tuesday 6 November 2007.