Salpichroa origanifolia (Lam.) Baillon

Pampas Lily-of-the-Valley

Scrambling annual or perennial, rhizomatous herb with older stems square in section. Leaves often 2 per node and unequal in size, more or less ovate, to 2 cm or so long, strongly aromatic. Flowers single or in pairs, hanging on stalks to about 1 cm long. Calyx bell-shaped. Corolla 6-8 mm long, creamy white, the triangular lobes bent back; spring to autumn. Fruit a conical, white to pale yellow, translucent berry to about 2 cm long.

Argentina

A vigorous groundcover and climber, sometimes grown as an annual.

A widely naturalised plant worldwide. In Australia found in all states except the NT and most common on urban wasteland in SE Australia.

Edible but poorly flavoured fruit. Said to be a good honey plant.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Solanaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

Hero image
kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Asteranae
order      Solanales
family       Solanaceae
genus        Salpichroa Miers