Tasmannia insipida – Scrub Pepperbush (plant)

Description

Tasmania insipida is a small/medium sized shrub, 1-5m tall, naturally growing in rainforest north from approximately. Moruya in NSW to near Cooktown in Qld. Also occurs in NT and PNG. Plants are dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants). Fruit are berry like, white to purplish and contain approx. 10-30 black seeds.

Tasmannia species contain polygodial, the substance responsible for the warm/hot/pungent flavour. The biological activity of polygodial has been reported in the scientific literature to include anti-fungal and antimicrobial activities, antihyperalgesia, potent attachment-inhibitory activity, insect antifeedant activity, antinociception, vasorelaxation action in vessels of rabbit and guinea pig, anti-inflammatory and antiallergic activities.

Named presumably after its more minor levels of polygodial, compared to other Tasmannia species, from the Latin insipidus, the opposite of sapidus which means flavourful, and generally means without agreeable flavour. I think this is a bit harsh and find T. insipida to be still quite spicy, just less so that T. lanceolata or T. stipitata. The leaves are also reputed to have no scent, yet I find the local ones on the Sunshine Coast to have a beautiful fragrance to the young leaves. I believe it is an underrated species of Tasmannia.

Care and Cultivation of Tasmannia insipida

Tasmannia insipida likes a full sun or part shade position with adequate moisture and regular fertiliser. Quite an adaptable little plant worthy of most gardens.

1 plant (seed grown)