Aristotelia peduncularis
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Aristotelia peduncularis - Heart Berry (2077558040) fragment.jpg
| genus = Aristotelia (plant)
| species = peduncularis
| authority = (Labill.) Hook.f.
| synonyms = * Elaeocarpus peduncularis Labill.
- Friesia peduncularis Labill.
}}
Aristotelia peduncularis, also known as heartberry,{{Cite web|url=https://www.utas.edu.au/dicotkey/dicotkey/ELAEO_CUN_TREM/gAristotelia.htm|title=Key to Tasmanian Dicots|website=www.utas.edu.au|access-date=2019-12-11}} is a shrub in the family Elaeocarpaceae, endemic to the wet forests of Tasmania.{{Cite web|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/rest/treeElement/51344719/51220376|title=Vascular Plants|website=biodiversity.org.au|access-date=2019-12-11}}
Description
Aristotelia peduncularis is a straggly woody monoecious shrub with slender arching branches reaching up to 1.5 metres in height.{{Cite book|title=Tasmania's Natural Flora|publisher=Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc., Hobart Group|year=2012|isbn=9780909830663|editor-last=Howells|editor-first=Christine|location=Hobart, Tasmania|pages=120}}
Leaves vary in size from 2 to 7 centimetres and are generally ovate to lanceolate with toothed margins, though they may occasionally be deeply lobed. They are held opposite, alternate, or in whorls of three.{{Cite web|url=https://www.utas.edu.au/docs/plant_science/field_botany/species/dicots/elaeocsp/arispedu.html|title=Species information: Aristotelia peduncularis|website=www.utas.edu.au|access-date=2019-12-11}}
Flowers occur in summer and are hermaphroditic, white and campanulate, held singly (or sometimes in a group of 2-3) from long peduncles at axils.{{Cite journal|last=Coode|first=M. J. E.|date=1985|title=Aristotelia and Vallea, Closely Related in Elaeocarpaceae|journal=Kew Bulletin|volume=40|issue=3|pages=479–507|doi=10.2307/4109610|jstor=4109610}} Each petal is triple-lobed, forming a fringe, and the inside of the flower may have some pink-purple markings.
The fruit is a fleshy, roughly heart-shaped berry, ranging in colour from deep purple-black through to red, pink and white.
Distribution
This species is found only, but is widespread, within Tasmania,{{Cite web|url=http://www.understorey-network.org.au/communities.html?species=Aristotelia%20peduncularis|title=Communities|website=www.understorey-network.org.au|access-date=2019-12-11}} occurring more commonly in the south. It can be found in relative abundance in the understorey of wet forests where conditions are consistently moist and shady, often on mountain slopes and in fern gullies (60-600m)