Family: Rubiaceae
Plant: A semi-prostrate herb up to 30cm high with ribbed stems.
Flowers: Small, mauve, 3-5 lobed tubular flowers 2-4mm long in dense globular heads, 1-1.5cm diameter on stalks and in leaf axils.
Flowering: August-November.
Fruit: Green to purple, spiky, globular capsule up to 1cm diameter
Leaves: Lanceolate to ovate 1-5cm long and up to 2cm wide, oppositely arranged and rough to touch as they are covered with short stiff hairs. The leaves have a foetid smell when crushed.
Habitat: Usually found in rocky locations in dry sclerophyll forest and heathland.
Features: Foetid smell. Opposite leaves. Small globular fruit. Square stems.
Name:
Opercularia From Latin = lidded (referring to its valved capsules)
aspera From Latin = rough (referring to its leaves)
|
Type |
Herb |
|
|
Flowers |
Form |
Globular, Tubular/Bell- |
|
|
|
shaped, Cluster, |
|
|
Colour(s) |
Mauve |
|
|
Petal/Sepal No. |
Few, 4, 5 |
|
|
Flowering Month |
8, 9, 10, 11 |
|
Fruit |
Type |
Capsule |
|
|
Colour |
Green, Purple |
|
|
Other Features |
- |
|
Leaves |
Arrangement |
Opposite |
|
|
Type |
Simple |
|
|
Shape |
Oval |
|
|
Length |
Short |
|
|
Margins |
Entire |
|
|
Attachment |
Stalked |
|
|
Other Features |
Aromatic, Rough, Hairy |
|
Bark |
- |
|
|
Habitat |
Dry sclerophyll forest, Heathland |
|