Plants of
South Australia
Correa reflexa var. reflexa
Rutaceae
Common Correa
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Etymology

Correa named after Jose Francisco Correa de Serra (1751-1823), a Portuguese botanist. Reflexa from the Latin 'reflectere' meaning to bent backwards; referring to the angle at which the leaf-like bracts above the flowers join the stem.

Distribution and status

Found in the South-east in South Australia, growing in damp gullies in the coastal and near coastal areas. Also found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Native. Rare in South Australia. Uncommon in Queensland. Common in the other states
Herbarium region: South Eastern
NRM region: South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Decumbent or erect shrub to 2 m high. Leaves papery, broadly ovate, to 60 mm long and 35 mm wide, apex obtuse, base shallowly to deeply cordate or rounded, sparsely stellate to slightly scabrous above, sparsely to moderately stellate-hairy beneath. Inflorescence mostly pendent, clasped between two reflexed foliaceous bracts with narrow cylindrical, red with green tips or dull green flowers. This variety differ from the other two varieties found in South Australia, Correa reflexa var. insularis which have green to yellow, erect to drooping flowers not obviously clasped by foliaceous bracts and C. reflexa var. scabridula which have red with green or pale lobes, erect to drooping flowers not clasped between reflexed foliaceous bracts and trumpet-shaped corolla, rather than having red with green tips or dull green drooping flowers clasped between two reflexed foliaceous bracts in C. reflexa var. reflexa. Flowering between April and September. Fruits are brown capsule to 9 mm long enclose by the sepals. Seed embryo type is linear fully developed.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between June and October. Collect mature capsules, those that are turning brown and contain hard seeds, either by hands or place small breathable bags over immature capsules to collect seed. Capsules maybe hard to see as it is enclose by the sepals. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for a weeks. Then rub the capsules gently by hand to dislodge the seeds. Be very careful as the seed coat is thin and easily damaged. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. This species has morphophysiological dormancy and can be difficult to germinate.