Rivina humilis (Rivinia humilis).
Family Phytolaccaceae or Petiveriaceae.
The Coral berry or Small pokeweed is native to the Americas.
The only species, R. humilis is naturalised, and an environmental weed in S. E. Queensland.
It is seen in gardens as an ornamental plant but is mostly a weed.
They are small erect herbs or woody shrubs up to 1 m high.
The dichotomously branched stems are angular.
Stems may have small hairs at the nodes.
The simple leaves, on petioles up to 5 cm long are alternately arranged.
The oblong, elliptic to ovate blades are up to 12 or 13 cm long.
They typically have no hairs but there may be a few on the veins on the lower surface.
The inflorescences are terminal or axillary.
They are long, narrow and unbranched with flowers on pedicels up to 5 mm long (racemes).
They continue to grow being about 8 cm long with flowers and 15 cm with the fruit.
The small flowers are bisexual and each has small bracteoles at the base of the pedicels.
There are no petals but 4 sepals (tepals or perianth segments) up to 3 mm long.
Initially white they turn pink or greenish as they mature.
There are 4 stamens.
The superior ovary of 1 carpel has 1 locule.
There is a short, curved style and roundish stigma.
The fruit are round berries about 4 mm across.
They mature from green to red.
The black seeds, 2 to 3 mm across have short pale hairs.
J.F.
