Ventilago viminalis
Hook.
Rhamnaceae
Common Name: Supplejack
General Information
Supplejack is an evergreen shrub growing 4 - 5 metres tall, or a small tree reaching 5 - 10 metres[
]. The bole can be 15 - 30cm in diameter[
601- Title
- The Useful Native Plants of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Maiden J.H.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Turner & Co.; London.
- Year
- 1889
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse details of the uses of many Australian plants and other species naturalised, or at least growing, in Australia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for its edible gum, medicinal uses and for fuel.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia.
Habitat
Semi-arid inland areas within the latitudinal range 16 - 32°S at elevations between sea level and 650 metres[
]. Usually found as scattered individuals in eucalypt communities, from heavy clay soils on flood plains to sandy soils[
365- Title
- Flora of New South Wales
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/floraonline.htm
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource giving a brief botanical description of all the native plants of New South Wales, their habitat and range, together with diagrams and photographs of the plants.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 6.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of semi-arid, lowland tropical areas, where it is found at elevations up to 650 metres[
]. The plant prefers to grow in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 36°c, but it can tolerate 12 - 44°c[
]. Even when dormant, it can be killed by temperatures of -2°c[
]. It grows best in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 400 - 600mm, but tolerates 250 - 700mm[[
].
Requires a sunny position[
]. Succeeds in most well-drained soils[
]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7.5, tolerating 5 - 8[
]. Established plants are drought-tolerant[
].
Plants are fire-resistant[
]. Plants resprout well if they are cut back[
156- Title
- Useful Wild Plants in Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Cribb. A. B. and J. W.
- Publisher
- William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-00-216441-8
- Description
- A very readable book.
].
Edible Uses
An edible gum is obtained from the tree[
].
Medicinal
The tree has medicinal properties[
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The tree can provide shade,[
].
Other Uses
The dark-brown wood is hard, heavy, close-grained, and takes a good polish[
601- Title
- The Useful Native Plants of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Maiden J.H.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Turner & Co.; London.
- Year
- 1889
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse details of the uses of many Australian plants and other species naturalised, or at least growing, in Australia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The wood can be used as fuel[
]. It is one of the woods used by the Australian Aborigines to produce fire by friction[156[,
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
