Dodonaea triquetra

Dodonaea triquetra Common Hop Bush
Common Hop Bush at Eastwood, New South Wales, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Sapindaceae
Genus:	Dodonaea
Species:	D. triquetra
Binomial name
Dodonaea triquetra J.C.Wendl.

Dodonaea triquetra, known as Common Hop Bush or Large Leaf Hop Bush, is a species of shrub occurring in eastern Australia.

Description

It grows as an erect shrub to 3 metres high. Leaves 5 to 12 cm long, 1 to 5 cm wide. Elliptic in shape, occasionally lanceolate or ovate. Flowers form on panicles. Seeds form on a winged capsule, 9 to 16 mm long.

Distribution and habitat

Growing in the forest understorey, in either wet or dry sclerophyll forest, often on sedimentary soils. Commonly seen in forest remnants in Sydney. Occurring in the states of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

Uses

Capsules used as a hop substitute by early settlers.

Dodonaea triquetra is cultivated as an ornamental plant for use in gardens and as a potted plant.

References

• Plant Net retrieved August 17th, 2009 http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Dodonaea~triquetra
• Definite Guide to Native Plants, Global Book Publishing ISBN 978-174048-027-7