About Psychotria loniceroides Sieber ex DC.
Psychotria loniceroides Sieber ex DC. is a shrub that reaches a height of 2 to 5 metres, with soft hairs covering its branches, leaves, and flowers. Its leaves are ovate, elliptic, or oblong in shape, growing up to 15 cm (5.9 in) long and 5 cm (2.0 in) wide. The flowers are small, fragrant, and measure approximately 5 mm (0.20 in) in both length and width, bearing five white petals. After flowering, the plant produces cream or pale yellow globular fruits that reach up to 8 mm (0.31 in) in diameter. This species occurs along the entire east coast of Australia, ranging from near Bega in southeastern New South Wales to the islands of the Torres Strait, Queensland. A separate disjunct population is also located in the Northern Territory. It grows as an understorey shrub in drier types of rainforest, including monsoon forest and vine thickets, as well as in wet sclerophyll forests that form the transition zone between rainforest and eucalypt and other dry forests. In northern Australia, it can be found at altitudes ranging from sea level up to 1,100 m (3,600 ft). Many species of birds eat the fruits of this plant, and the larvae of the moth Macroglossum alcedo feed on its leaves. Ripe fruits of Psychotria loniceroides are reported to be edible by humans, though they may cause throat irritation. In his book Plants of Tropical North Queensland, John Beasley notes only that "Some Psycotrias are poisonous" in reference to this plant.
