Alectryon diversifolius

Alectryon diversifolius, commonly named scrub boonaree or holly bush, is a species of Australian small trees of the plant family Sapindaceae.^[3]

Alectryon diversifolius foliage showing the diversity of leaf forms.

Alectryon diversifolius
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Sapindaceae
Genus:	Alectryon
Species:	A. diversifolius
Binomial name
Alectryon diversifolius (F.Muell.) S.T.Reynolds[1][2]
Synonyms
Heterodendrum diversifolium F.Muell.

Description

Alectryon diversifolius grows as a shrub up to 4 m high, with simple leaves often clustered on short branchlets.^[4] Leaf shape is highly variable even on individual plants, ranging from oval to lanceolate to strongly serrated and holly-like.^[3][4]

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in central and south-eastern Qld and north-eastern N.S.W. Usually growing in Brigalow scrub in dark clay.

Taxonomy

It was first described by Ferdinand von Mueller in 1858 as Heterodendrum diversifolius,^[1][5] but was moved to the genus, Alectryon by Sally T. Reynolds in 1987.^[1][2]