The vagantem virgultii, also known as the Australian Wandering Shrub, is believed to have been introduced
into Australia from the Iselmatainian Archipelago, where it is known as the Creeping Shrub (insinuatis virgultii).
Unlike its Iselmatian cousin, the Australian Wandering Shrub cannot use its roots to propel itself along the ground.
Instead, as an adaptation to living in an arid climate, it sends out runners in all directions. When a runner finds
water, the main plant drops off the other runners, and then by contracting the cells in the remaining runner, the main plant
“pulls” itself to the water. Wandering Shrubs have been known to relocate the main plant up to 12 meters
(nearly 40 feet) in one day. The Australian Wandering Shrub has small purple flowers in the spring, and in the fall
it produces a seedpod that resembles pull-tabs that were once popular on beer cans.
The seedpods
are the principle diet of Norbeck’s Pademelon, an arboreal marsupial that resembles a small kangaroo. Most other animals avoid the plant because its leaves are bitter.
Handling the plant can cause mild to severe skin irritations in most people. The Australian Wandering Shrub, though an attractive
plant, has never been used in landscaping because of its tendency not to stay put, as well as its toxic nature. It is
not considered invasive, because it never really stays anywhere for that long. Overall, most Australians simply ignore
the plant.
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