Lignum

Lignum photos

Family: Dock (Polygonaceae)

Scientific Name:

Muehlenbeckia florulenta (syn. M. cunninghamii)

Photograph courtesy of Viridans Biological Databases (external link)

Other Common Names:

Tangled Lignum

Status:

Native to inland areas of Australia.

Plant Description:

Hairless perennial shrub, to 2.5 m high, with many slender tangled striate branches and branchlets.

Leaves alternate, linear or lanceolate, on most plants rarely remaining for long and usually not occurring on the older branches.

Plants are monoecious (separate male and female flowers). Flowers small, yellowish, solitary or in whorl-like clusters along the branchlets. Fruiting body more or less top-shaped, dry, 5mm long. Flowering throughout most of the year.

Habitat:

Swamps, river flats, gilgais and other intermittently inundated areas, in southern districts often associated with Black Box and River Red Gum.

Region	Salinity Class	Waterlogging Class
Mallee, Loddon Murray, Central and Northern	S0, S1, S2, S3, S4	W1, W2
Wimmera, Western	S0, S1, S2	W1, W2

* in more southern climes, higher salinity classes are generally associated with more waterlogged situations

Comments:

Lignum has a very deep root system, penetrating to at least 3 m. The plant is highly tolerant to drought and salinity.

Lignum roots Photo: A J Brown	Lignum - mature plants Photo: A J Brown
Lignum taproot Photo: A J Brown	Lignum - flowers Photo: A J Brown
Lignum - stems Photo: A J Brown	Lignum - buds Photo: A J Brown
Young Lignum bush Photo: A J Brown

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