Elaeocarpus reticulatus

Elaeocarpus reticulatus is a shrub or small tree that typically grows to a height of {{cvt|3–10|m}}, but up to {{cvt|30|m}} in some situations, and has a lignotuber at its base. The leaves are simple, (strictly compound with only one leaflet), oblong to elliptic, mostly {{cvt|50–130|mm}} long and {{cvt|10–40|mm}} wide on a petiole {{cvt|5–20|mm}} long. The leaves are more or less glabrous, often turn red before falling, have regular teeth along the edges, small domatia and a prominent network of veins on both surfaces. The flowers are arranged in racemes up to {{cvt|50–80|mm}} long, with between five and ten flowers, each on a pedicel {{cvt|4–8|mm}} long. The five sepals are narrow triangular {{cvt|5–6|mm}} long and about {{cvt|1|mm}} wide. The five petals are white, sometimes pinkish, {{cvt|6–7|mm}} long and about {{cvt|2|mm}} wide, the tip with between seven and ten linear lobes. There are between thirteen and fifteen stamens and the style is {{cvt|3–4|mm}} long. Flowering occurs from October to January and the fruit is a more or less spherical, oval or elliptical blue drupe about {{cvt|12|mm}} long.{{cite web |last1=Jeanes |first1=Jeff A. |title=Elaeocarpus reticulatus |url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/f2f6c4ef-df0e-4b63-81e4-4f6b478a04ae |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria |access-date=22 February 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Wood |first1=Betty |title=Elaeocarpus reticulatus |url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/plants_se_nsw/text/entities/elaeocarpus_reticulatus.htm |publisher=Lucid Central |access-date=22 February 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Hyland |first1=Bernard |last2=Coode |first2=Mark J. |title=Elaeocarpus in Australia and New Zealand. |journal=Kew Bulletin |date=1984 |volume=39 |issue=3 |pages=557–559}}{{cite book |last1=Floyd |first1=Alexander G. |title=Rainforest trees of mainland South-eastern Australia |date=1989 |publisher=Inkata Press |location=Melbourne |isbn=0-909605-57-2 |page=117}}

Elaeocarpus reticulatus was first formally described in 1809 by James Edward Smith in Abraham Rees's The Cyclopaedia from specimens collected near Port Jackson by John White.{{cite web|title=Elaeocarpus reticulatus|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/479338|publisher=APNI|access-date=22 February 2021}}{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=James E. |last2=Rees |first2=Abraham (ed.)|title=The Cyclopaedia |volume=12|date=1809 |publisher=Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme & Brown |location=London |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/rest/instance/apni/479338 |access-date=22 February 2021}} The specific epithet (reticulatus) means "with the appearance of a net".{{cite book |last1=Sharr |first1=Francis Aubi |last2=George |first2=Alex |title=Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings |date=2019 |publisher=Four Gables Press |location=Kardinya, WA |isbn=9780958034180 |page=293 |edition=3rd}}

Blueberry ash often grows in tall eucalypt forest, in or near rainforest, often in moist gullies, but also found on stony ridges. It occurs along the east coast of Australia from Fraser Island in Queensland to Flinders Island in Tasmania. In New South Wales it is found from sea level to the ranges and in Victoria to the east of Wilsons Promontory where it is often locally common.{{cite book |last1=Robinson |first1=Les |title=Field guide to the native plants of Sydney |date=1991 |publisher=Kangaroo Press |location=Kenthurst, NSW |isbn=0864171927 |page=164}}

The fruits of E. reticulatus are eaten by birds, including wonga pigeons, crimson rosellas, figbirds, white-headed pigeons and olive-backed orioles and the regent bowerbird collects them to decorate its bower.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Liz |title=Elaeocarpus reticulatus |url=http://anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2002/elaeocarpus-reticulatus.html |publisher=Australian National Botanic Gardens |access-date=22 February 2021}}

Blueberry ash is described as "an outstanding specimen tree for coastal gardens". Propagation of the plant can be achieved from semi-hardwood cuttings taken in warmer weather, but germination from seed can take several years. The shrub is hardy in most situations and can be grown in shade to full sun.{{cite book |last1=Wrigley |first1=John W. |last2=Fagg |first2=Murray |title=Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping |date=1983 |publisher=Collins |location=Sydney |isbn=0002165759 |page=332 |edition=2nd}}

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{{Taxonbar|from=Q3013110}}

reticulatus

Category:Oxalidales of Australia

Category:Flora of Queensland

Category:Flora of New South Wales

Category:Flora of Victoria (state)

Category:Flora of Tasmania