About Myrsine howittiana F.Muell. ex Mez
Myrsine howittiana, commonly called brush muttonwood or muttonwood, is a shrub or small tree belonging to the family Primulaceae. This species is endemic to eastern Australia. It reaches a mature height of 3 to 10 metres, and has smooth, often whitish bark. New growth buds are covered in rusty-coloured hairs. Its leaves range from obovate to elliptic in shape, measuring 4 to 13 cm long and 2 to 4 cm wide. The leaves are shiny with wavy edges, have a duller underside, and grow from petioles 7 to 14 mm in length. Greenish-white to cream flowers bloom in spring and summer. These flowers are followed by blue or mauve fruits, 5 to 7 mm in diameter, that ripen between December and June. This species is pollinated by Thrips setipennis, a thrips also known as thunderfly. It can be found growing from southern Victoria (37° S) north through New South Wales to Fraser Island (25° S) in Queensland, most often in habitats where rainforest meets moist open forest.
