Nitre bush (Nitraria billardierei)
Description
Nitraria billardierei is a perennial salt tolerant shrub. It is often found in saline areas or areas that have been overgrazed. Nitre Bush flowers mainly in spring with small ovoid or oblong fruit (drupe) that are purple, red or golden. While widely known as nitre bush it is sometimes referred to as dillon bush. The fruit are edible, said to taste like salty grapes, and were eaten by indigenous Australians. Fruit can also be made into jam or dried and stored. It is a broad and low shrub, up to 2 metres (7 ft) high and 4 m wide. Nitre bush is found across the mainland states of Australia. The plant's spread and germination in areas of heavy clay soil is assisted by the fruit's consumption by emus, Australia's native flightless bird.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Sapindales
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Family: Nitrariaceae
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Genus: Nitraria
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