Duboisia hopwoodii
Duboisia hopwoodii is a species of the genus Duboisia in the nightshade family (Solanaceae ). An English common name is pituri.
Description
Duboisia hopwoodii is achieved by 3 m around a shrub, the heights of 4 m and widths. Its leaves are narrowly elliptic or ovate - elliptic to linear, sessile or rarely provided with an up to 3 mm long petiole. They are 2-12 cm long and 1-13 mm wide and are colored the same on both leaf surfaces.
The inflorescences are narrow and provided with 0.4 to 5 mm long bracts. The flowers are at 1.5 to 5 mm long pedicles. The cup is 1.5 to 4.5 mm long, calyx lobes the most about 1/3 have the length of the calyx tube. The crown reached lengths 7-15 mm, the corolla tube has at the top a diameter of 4.5 to 8 mm. The Corolla lobe are 2.5 to 5.5 mm long. There shall be four stamens, which are 3-8 mm long. The stylus is equal to or shorter than the upper dust leaves with a length of 3.5 to 6.5 mm.
The fruit is a berry that is usually spherical or nearly spherical, rarely but also elliptical. It measures 2-5 mm in diameter, is purple - black in color and is available in a 3 to 5 mm long stalk. The seeds are from 2 to 2.5 mm long.
Dissemination and locations
The species is widespread in the arid regions of Western Australia, the southern Northern Territory and South Australia and extends to the Central Western Queensland and the western New South Wales. It grows mostly on red or yellow sand or sandy loam on plains, low dunes or ridges. Often the kind to be found in connection with a spiked head grasses ( Triodia ).
Importance
The plant contains nicotine and nornicotine and is therefore used by Aborigines as an animal poison and narcotic. The trivial name pituri is used accordingly for Australian, usable as a narcotic species of the genus Nicotiana.
Evidence
- RW Purdie, DE Symon and L. Haegi: Duboisia hopwoodii. In: Solanaceae, Flora of Australia, Volume 29, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1982, pp. 18-21. . ISBN 0-642-07015-6.
- Solanaceae
- Solanaceae