Mountain quandong

Description

It is usually a large bush or a small tree. However, rare specimens are most impressive; being 2 m wide at the base, and 25 m tall. The trunk is straight with dark grey or brown outer bark, relatively smooth with some fissures and wrinkles. Leaves are particularly serrated, 3 to 7 cm long, mid to dark green above, and paler below. They show prominent venation, particularly on the underside. Another identifying feature of this and other Elaeocarpus trees is the senescent red leaves. White flowers appear on paired racemes in November and December. The fruit is a black- or (immature) maroon-coloured drupe, 9 mm long, maturing from March to October. Like many Australian Elaeocarpus trees, germination is slow and difficult. However, cuttings prove more successful.