Crinkle Bush

Appearance

''Lomatia silaifolia'' is a small upright shrub which grows 1–2 metres high with glaucous smooth stems. It has highly pinnate leaves which can vary in appearance and are reminiscent of parsley. They are up to 35 to 50 centimetres long. The white inflorescences appear in summer and are up to 45 centimetres high.

Distribution

''Lomatia silaifolia'' is found across much of eastern Australia east of the Great Dividing Range, on the Blackdown Tableland in central Queensland, then from Gympie in the south-east of the state to the New England area of north-eastern New South Wales, and then also from the Hunter Region to Jervis Bay in central New South Wales. It grows as an understory shrub in open forest on sandstone soils, associated with such trees as red bloodwood , turpentine , blackbutt , Sydney peppermint , narrow-leaved peppermint , blue-leaved stringybark , red stringybark , grey gum , scribbly gum , smooth-barked apple or rose sheoak .

Habitat

''Lomatia silaifolia'' is found across much of eastern Australia east of the Great Dividing Range, on the Blackdown Tableland in central Queensland, then from Gympie in the south-east of the state to the New England area of north-eastern New South Wales, and then also from the Hunter Region to Jervis Bay in central New South Wales. It grows as an understory shrub in open forest on sandstone soils, associated with such trees as red bloodwood , turpentine , blackbutt , Sydney peppermint , narrow-leaved peppermint , blue-leaved stringybark , red stringybark , grey gum , scribbly gum , smooth-barked apple or rose sheoak .Plants are thought to live for over 60 years and regenerate after bushfire by resprouting from the base. The leaves are eaten by swamp wallabies . Calves are thought to have died after eating it, and cut flowers kept indoors have been reported to attract and kill flies. Positive cyanide reactions have been recorded for the anthers, styles and stigmas.

Cultural

''Lomatia silaifolia'' was trialled in cultivation in England in 1808, though noted to flower rarely and require a greenhouse. The unusual leaves and fruits of the species make it a suitable garden feature. It can be easily propagated from seed, is hardy in most soils and aspects.