Breynia stipitata Mull.Arg.

Mueller Argoviensis, J. (1866) Prodromus 15: 442. Type: In Sweers Island Novae Hollandiae (Henne! ex specim. a cl. Ferd. Muell. miss. in hb. DC.

Apple, Dwarf's; Fart Bush; Dwarf's Apple; Breynia; Coffee Bush

Seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh.

Leaves distichous, leaf blades about 4-9 x 2.5-5 cm. Crushed leaves emit an obnoxious odour. Stipules fairly small, tapering to a fine point. About 4-8 main lateral veins on each side of the midrib.

Flowers small, less than 3 mm diam. at anthesis.

Fruits globular to depressed globular, about 7-10 mm diam., on pedicels about 3-5 mm long. Seeds about 4-5 mm long. Testa pale, surface smooth.

Cotyledons elliptic, about 8-13 x 3-5 mm. All leaves after 1st or 2nd pair of leaves are produced on lateral shoots and resemble compound leaves. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade ovate to elliptic, apex acute, base cuneate; stipules triangular, about 0.5 mm long.

Endemic to Australia (?), occurs in NT, CYP and NEQ, widespread. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 800 m. This is a regrowth species which is favoured by disturbance. Grows in disturbed areas in well developed rain forest.

Food plant for the larval stages of the Common Grass Yellow Butterfly. Common & Waterhouse (1981).

This shrub contains methyl mercaptan, a substance with a particularly disagreeable odour. Cribb (1981).