Psychotria loniceroides, commonly known as hairy psychotria or Mapoon bush, is a species of plant in the coffee family Rubiaceae native to northern and eastern Australia. It is a shrub of drier rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests, and the fruit are eaten by birds. It was first described in 1830.
Psychotria loniceroides is a shrub growing to 2–5 metres in height and the branches, leaves and flowers are softly hairy. The leaves are ovate, elliptic or oblong and are up to 15cm (5.9in) long by 5cm (2.0in) wide.[4][5][6]
Flowers are small and fragrant, about 5mm (0.20in) long and wide, with five white petals. They are followed by cream or pale yellow globular fruits up to 8mm (0.31in) diameter.[4][5][7]
Distribution and habitat
This species is present along the entire east coast of Australia, from near Bega in south eastern New South Wales to islands of the Torres Strait, Queensland. There is also a disjunct population in the Northern Territory.[4][8] It grows as an understorey shrub in drier types of rainforest (such as monsoon forest and vine thickets), and in wet sclerophyll forests which form the transition from rainforest to eucalypt and other dry forests. In northern Australia, it is found at altitudes from sea level to 1,100m (3,600ft).[4][5]
The generic name Psychotria is based on an earlier name, Psychotrophon, which was given to a plant reputed to have medicinal qualities. It is derived from Ancient Greek psyche meaning 'life' or 'soul', and the suffix -trophe meaning 'nourishment' or 'support'. The species epithetloniceroides is a reference to a percieved similarity between this species and plants in the genus Lonicera.[7][10]
Conservation
In Queensland this plant is listed as least concern,[1] while in the Northern Territory it is considered to be near-threatened.[11]As of January2026[update], it has not been assessed by the IUCN.
Ecology
Fruits are eaten by many species of birds.[7][12] The larvae of the moth Macroglossum alcedo feed on the leaves of this plant.[13]
Uses
Ripe fruit are reported to be edible to humans, although they may irritate the throat.[6] In his book Plants of Tropical North Queensland, John Beasley simply states, in reference to this plant, that "Some Psycotrias are poisonous."[12]
↑"Psychotria loniceroides". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
1234F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Psychotria loniceroides". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
123S. McCune (1993). "Psychotria loniceroides Sieber ex DC". PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
↑Green, P.S. (2022). Kodela, P.G. (ed.). "Psychotria L."Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
↑Cowie I, Lewis D, etal. (2013). "Psychotria loniceroides Sieber ex DC". FloraNT, Northern Territory Herbarium. Northern Territory Government, Darwin. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
12Beasley, John (2006). Plants of Tropical North Queensland - the compact guide. John Beasley. p.159. ISBN978-1-876617-13-4.
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Habit
Inflorescence
Fruit
