About Polyosma cunninghamii Benn.
Polyosma cunninghamii Benn. grows as a tree reaching up to 15 metres in height, with a trunk diameter of up to 25 centimetres. Its dark brown bark is marked by wrinkles and vertical ridges. Young shoots have fine hairs near the leaf buds. Its leaves are arranged oppositely, are simple in form, and reverse lanceolate in shape; they measure 5 to 10 centimetres long, with four to six serrations along each edge. Leaf stalks are around 3 to 6 millimetres long. The leaf midrib is raised on the underside of the leaf, but sunken on the upper leaf surface. Fragrant white or yellowish-green flowers form in racemes between March and November. The fruit is an attractive black ovate berry 15 to 20 millimetres long, marked with longitudinal lines. Fruit matures between March and August, though fruiting can occur at other times of the year. The fruit is eaten by various birds, including the green catbird and rose crowned fruit dove. Germination from fresh seed is slow, taking between six and ten months to complete.
