Purple cheeseberry, Handsome cheeseberry
Cyathodes glauca
Family: Ericaceae
What it is like
A small bush. It can be 1-2 m tall but can be 10 m tall when among other vegetation. The leaves are sword shaped. The leaves are 1.5-3 cm long by 0.3-0.5 cm wide. They are clustered in false rings. The flowers occur in clusters amongst the leaves. They are like tubes and 1 cm long. They are white and are at the tips of the branches. The fruit are red. They are flattened. They are 0.8 cm across. The fruit remain hanging on the plant.
There are about 15 Cyathodes species.
Where it is found
A warm temperate plant. A Tasmanian endemic plant. It suits cool places. It grows in hills and mountains. It needs well drained moist soil. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. Tasmanian Herbarium. Arboretum Tasmania. In Hobart Botanical gardens.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin), Tasmania (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
It grows easily from cuttings. They can be grown from seed.
Flowers occur from December to January.