Hedycarya angustifolia

Hedycarya angustifolia, common name Austral Mulberry, is a shrub or small tree, though it occasionally can reach a height of 20 metres and a trunk diameter of 40 cm. The trunk is usually crooked with more than one main stem. The bark is thin; grey or fawn in colour, and is fairly smooth with some vertical lines. Leaves are alternate, toothed, ovate to lanceolate with a pointed
tip; 8 to 20 cm long. The leaf stalk is 8 to 20 mm long. The midrib is raised below the leaf, but sunken above. The leaf veins are easily noticed. Greenish flowers form on a raceme like cyme in the months of August to October. The fruit is a fleshy yellow drupe, ripening from December to January.

Significance to the Ganai community.

Austral Mulberry is found in moist gullies. The Shoots from the base of the plant were used as fire drills and were a valuable trading item.

77.00 Location Many specimens form part of the Tarwin River bank restoration plantings by the West Gippsland CMA in 2009/11