Spiny Kangaroo Apple

Description:

Solanum amblymerum, commonly known as "spiny kangaroo apple", is a member of the family Solanaceae, and is an Australian native found in NSW and QLD. Such a pretty flower too, and apparently the fruit do look like tiny green apples, although it wasn't fruiting at this time. It's a very prickly small shrub that can grow to a max. height of about 1.5 metres. Spines are on the stems and both top and underside of the leaves. Leaves are long and lobeless, mostly smooth and dark green on top with hairy paler-coloured undersides. This is an understory plant and prefers sandy soils.

Habitat:

Spotted along the Mt. Mathieson Trail, in a section of sclerophyll forest at Mt. Mathieson, Spicers Gap. This area forms part of Main Range National Park, and is included in the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. Massive fires have recently burnt through this region, although some sections of the park were spared.