Dodonea microzyga
Family: Sapindaceae
Densely branched shrub which can grow to 1.5m in height. The flowers are small and inconspicuous but the fruit of this plant is a brilliant reddish capsule with three wings around the outside.
It is listed as near threatened in the Northern Territory and its Northern Territory range is restricted to rocky outcrops and ridges south of the MacDonnell Ranges to the Northern Territory-South Australia border.
Brilliant hopbush is mainly found in South Australia but also has populations in western New South Wales, the temperate arid zone of Western Australia and an isolated patch in the Diamantina National Park between Boulia and Winton in Queensland.
Where to find this plant at Alice Springs Desert Park
These beautiful plants can be found near the Nocturnal House on the boundary between the Sand Country and Woodland habitats.
Source:
Moore, P., 2005. A Guide to Plants of Inland Australia, Reed New Holland, Sydney
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Dodonaea+microzyga+var.+microzyga
Peter Jobson - Northern Territory Herbarium botanist