This lovely tree Elaeocarpus reticulatus grows in gullies along the coast and ranges of eastern Australia, from southern Queensland, through New South Wales and Victoria, to King and Flinders Islands in Bass Strait. In late spring, Blueberry Ash produces masses of delicate, fringed, white or pink flowers. Plants in the bush can often be identified by young leaves variously coloured cream, orange, scarlet or crimson. Blueberry Ash has emerged from rainforest environments of south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern NSW to colonise drier habitats of south-eastern Australia. Here its leaves have become more leathery than those growing in mesic environments. In the Sydney area, Blueberry Ash usually grows along watercourses in gullies, close to rainforest or wet sclerophyll forest. However, in areas of urban bushland where fires are now less frequent, it colonises the upper slopes of gullies and even ridge tops. This is also a characteristic of another local indigenous plant, Pittosporum undulatum (Native Daphne), which has become a problem invasive plant. Both Native Daphne and Blueberry Ash have the potential to block light from sun loving species (for example, Xanthorrhoea and Banksia.) that are unable to survive in deep shade. Flowers are followed by bright, dark-blue fruits, often referred to as ‘berries’ but are technically ‘drupes’. Male Regent Bowerbirds collect the bright blue fruit to decorate their bowers, hoping to attract females. The fruits are eaten by Currawongs, Crimson Rosellas, Figbirds, White Headed Pigeons, Olive- backed Orioles and Wonga Pigeons. Elaeocarpus (family Elaeocarpaceae) is a huge genus, comprising about 350 species dispersed throughout the tropics, with the greatest number of species found in New Guinea and Borneo. Thirty to 40 species occur in Australia, mostly in tropical and subtropical areas, but a few extend into cooler, temperate regions. The name Elaeocarpus is derived from the Greek ελαιοκάρπου [elaia - olive and karpos - fruit]. The name reticulatus is derived from Latin, and describes the ‘net-like’ venation of the leaf. In India (Darjeeling and Sikkim), Bhadrasey, used for chutney and pickles, is the name given to the fruit of a number of species of Elaeocarpus. Sikkim Now : http://sikkimnow.blogspot.com.au/ Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaeocarpus_reticulatus Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaeocarpaceae Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Group: http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au/01_cms/details_pop.asp?ID=175 Map modified from Australia’s Native Plant Society (Australia): http://asgap.org.au/e-ret.html Alison Downing, Kevin Downing & Brian Atwell Department of Biological Sciences 17th November 2014 .