Common name: Oleander
Nerium oleander L. APNI*
Description: Shrub, often with many stems from near ground level, up to c. 8 m high, sap watery.
Leaves narrow-elliptic to lanceolate, 6–20 cm long, 10–30 mm wide, apex acute, base tapered, margins entire, lamina leathery, both surfaces ?glabrous, lower surface paler; secondary veins > 30; petiole mm long.
Inflorescence corymbose. Calyx 3–4 mm long. Corolla usually 3–4 cm diam., usually pink; tube 20–25 mm long; lobes c. 20 mm long, rounded, spreading. Folliscles 8–15 cm long, 5–10 mm wide, reddish brown.
Distribution and occurrence: Commonly grown as an ornamental, occasionally naturalized. Native of Medit. region.
NSW subdivisions: *CC, *NWS, ?LHI
Other Australian states: *Qld *S.A.
All parts toxic if eaten by humans or animals. Smoke should not be inhaled if the plants are burnt.
Text by G. J. Harden & J. B. Williams
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.