PETALOSTIGMA pubescens

A shrub or small tree with yellow flowers that occur in the leaf axils followed by globular yellow fruits on the female plants are prominent in winter.
Erect and branching stem with alternate silky leaves with shallowly lobed margins.

The indigenous people had several uses including chewing fruits, Infusion fruit to make antiseptic wash in water to relieve sore eyes, making a decoction from it to relieve toothache, and mouth wash and cure fever. Boiled leaves to dye fibre a dark grey to black and used wood to make spears and throwers.  

Endemic to the top end of Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Prefers rich moist well-drained soil in a protected sunny position, drought and frost tender.

Please Note: Although many of the traditional Bush Food and Medicine plants are now commercially produced in various forms we recommend you research these before using them as any form of food or medicine. Some parts of the plant may not be edible or some may need to be prepared before they are safe to eat or use in any way. We do our best to describe their traditional & modern uses. It is the purchaser's responsibility to ensure they are fit for their intended use.

Grow notes:

Although seed can be sown most of the year in many parts of Australia seed is generally best sown in spring or autumn in temperate climates, avoid the coldest and hottest months of the year. The optimum germination temperature for germination is around 25°C

1. Soak the seed overnight in warm water.
2. Sow seed 3mm deep
3. Water with a fine mist spray to avoid disturbance of the seed.
4. Place in a warm shaded or semi-shaded position to avoid dying out.
5. Keep warm & moist, and avoid drying out or waterlogging the growing mix.
6. Germination generally occurs in around 28-42 days in the right conditions.

General note: Seeds of many natives are dormant and require specific conditions or pre-treatment for germination.
Do not be too hasty to discard seed that does not germinate, seeds will often lay dormant until the conditions are similar to their natural requirements for germination to occur. Containers put to one side will often surprise long after they were discarded.