Kingdom Plantae Family Ericaceae Scientific name Leucopogon juniperinus | Order Ericales Genus Leucopogon Rank Species | |
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Similar Pratia purpurascens, Leucopogon ericoides, Leucopogon, Entolasia stricta, Daviesia ulicifolia | ||
Leucopogon juniperinus, also known as prickly beard-heath, is a common shrub found in eastern Australia. Found on a variety of soil types and habitats in eucalyptus woodland or forest. Often seen on more fertile sedimentary based clay soils.
A dense, small prickly plant usually less than a metre high. It features attractive long white flowers and sweet creamy yellow fruit. Flowers form from May to October, fruit mature in December and January. The sharp pointed leaves are 5.6 to 11.8 mm long, and 1.2 to 2.5 mm wide.
The specific epithet juniperinus refers to the similarity of the prickly European plant, the Juniper. In 1805 this species first appeared in the scientific literature by Christiaan Persoon in his Synopsis Plantarum. And in 1810 it appeared in the Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, authored by the prolific Scottish botanist, Robert Brown.