| Aristotelia peduncularis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Oxalidales |
| Family: | Elaeocarpaceae |
| Genus: | Aristotelia |
| Species: | A. peduncularis |
| Binomial name | |
| Aristotelia peduncularis | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
Aristotelia peduncularis, also known as heartberry, [2] is a shrub in the family Elaeocarpaceae, endemic to the wet forests of Tasmania. [1]
Aristotelia peduncularis is a straggly woody monoecious shrub with slender arching branches reaching up to 1.5 metres in height. [3]
Leaves vary in size from 2 to 7 centimetres and are generally ovate to lanceolate with toothed margins, though they may occasionally be deeply lobed. [3] They are held opposite, alternate, or in whorls of three. [4]
Flowers occur in summer and are hermaphroditic, white and campanulate, held singly (or sometimes in a group of 2-3) from long peduncles at axils. [3] [5] Each petal is triple-lobed, forming a fringe, and the inside of the flower may have some pink-purple markings. [3]
The fruit is a fleshy, roughly heart-shaped berry, ranging in colour from deep purple-black through to red, pink and white. [2] [3]
This species is found only, but is widespread, within Tasmania, [6] occurring more commonly in the south. [5] It can be found in relative abundance in the understorey of wet forests where conditions are consistently moist and shady, [2] [3] often on mountain slopes and in fern gullies (60-600m). [5]