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Useful Tropical Plants

Brunfelsia australis

Benth.

Solanaceae

+ Synonyms

Brunfelsia hopeana australis (Benth.) J.A.Schmidt

Brunfelsia paraguayensis Chodat

Brunfelsia uniflora intermedia Hassl.

Brunfelsia uniflora obovatifolia Hassl.

Franciscea australis (Benth.) Miers

Common Name:

Brunfelsia australis
Cultivated plant in Hawaii
Photograph by: Forest and Kim Starr
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Brunfelsia australis Brunfelsia australis Brunfelsia australis Brunfelsia australis

General Information

Brunfelsia australis is an evergreen shrub or small tree with ascending, spreading branches; it can grow 2 - 4 metres tall. The short bole can be 8cm in diameter[
929
Title
A Revision of the South American Species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)
Publication
Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 39
Author
Plowman T.C.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago.
Year
1998
ISBN
0015-0746
Description
A botanical journal, this edition is devoted entirely to the revision of the genus Brunfelsia in S. America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food condiment and medicine. The entire plant is frequently covered with fragrant, showy purple and white flowers at the same time, making this species a valuable ornamental - it is cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropics[
929
Title
A Revision of the South American Species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)
Publication
Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 39
Author
Plowman T.C.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago.
Year
1998
ISBN
0015-0746
Description
A botanical journal, this edition is devoted entirely to the revision of the genus Brunfelsia in S. America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The flower opens purple with a white eye and changes from purple to lavender on the second day and to white on the third.

Known Hazards

The foliage is said to be poisonous to grazing animals[
563
Title
Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 25
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanical Museum; Massachusetts.
Year
1977
ISBN
 
Description
Contains an article on medicinal and poisonous plants in the Amazon. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Although providing many well-known foods for people, including the potato, tomato, pepper and aubergine, most plants in the family Solanaceae also contain poisonous alkaloids. Unless there are specific entries with information on edible uses, it would be unwise to ingest any part of this plant[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Botanical References

929
Title
A Revision of the South American Species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)
Publication
Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 39
Author
Plowman T.C.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago.
Year
1998
ISBN
0015-0746
Description
A botanical journal, this edition is devoted entirely to the revision of the genus Brunfelsia in S. America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil.

Habitat

An understorey plant in low-elevation forests near to rivers and in adjacent uplands, usually in places not subject to periodic inundation; at elevations up to 450 metres[
929
Title
A Revision of the South American Species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)
Publication
Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 39
Author
Plowman T.C.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago.
Year
1998
ISBN
0015-0746
Description
A botanical journal, this edition is devoted entirely to the revision of the genus Brunfelsia in S. America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Properties

HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height3.00 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant mainly of the subtropics, where it is generally found at elevations below 500 metres, it has also been found at elevations above 1,000 metres in the tropics of Colombia and Ecuador.
Grows best in a position with partial shade - when growing in full sun the foliage may scorch and drop[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Prefers a loamy, fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Many species in this genus grow wild in alkaline soils and, in non-alkaline soils, all members of the genus can benefit from the addition of some ground limestone[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Plants usually produce root suckers around the main trunk[
929
Title
A Revision of the South American Species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)
Publication
Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 39
Author
Plowman T.C.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago.
Year
1998
ISBN
0015-0746
Description
A botanical journal, this edition is devoted entirely to the revision of the genus Brunfelsia in S. America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Edible Uses

Fruit - added to foods as a condiment[
563
Title
Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 25
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanical Museum; Massachusetts.
Year
1977
ISBN
 
Description
Contains an article on medicinal and poisonous plants in the Amazon. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Medicinal

The root is used as a remedy for syphilis[
563
Title
Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 25
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanical Museum; Massachusetts.
Year
1977
ISBN
 
Description
Contains an article on medicinal and poisonous plants in the Amazon. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - it has a short period of viability and does not tolerate dessication. Sown fresh, it germinates within 2 - 4 weeks[
929
Title
A Revision of the South American Species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)
Publication
Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 39
Author
Plowman T.C.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago.
Year
1998
ISBN
0015-0746
Description
A botanical journal, this edition is devoted entirely to the revision of the genus Brunfelsia in S. America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Layering[
929
Title
A Revision of the South American Species of Brunfelsia (Solanaceae)
Publication
Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 39
Author
Plowman T.C.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago.
Year
1998
ISBN
0015-0746
Description
A botanical journal, this edition is devoted entirely to the revision of the genus Brunfelsia in S. America. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Division of suckers.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Brunfelsia+australis>

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