Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - Online edition

Alstonia actinophylla (A.Cunn.) K.Schum.


Tree
Click/tap on images to enlarge
Leaves and Flowers. © CSIRO
Scale bar 10mm. © CSIRO
Cotyledon stage, epigeal germination. © CSIRO
10th leaf stage. © CSIRO
Family

Schumann, K.M. (1895) Die Naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien 4(2): 138.

Common name

Milkwood; Cape Milkwood; Milkwood, Northern Territory; Northern Territory Milkwood; White Cheesewood; Milkwood, Cape

Stem

Bark exudate rapid and copious. Dead bark rather corky, pale yellowish brown on the surface.

Leaves

Twigs and petioles produce a milky exudate. Leaves in whorls of 3-7. Intramarginal vein difficult to distinguish because of its proximity to the margin. Leaf blades about 5-12 x 0.5-2.5 cm, petioles about 0.5-0.7 cm long. Lateral veins about 23-45 on each side of the midrib.

Flowers

Flowers about 6-8 mm diam. Sepals about 1-1.5 x 0.9-1.2 mm. Corolla tube about 7-9 x 1-1.5 mm, lobes with the left margins overlapping. Corolla glabrous on the outer surface. Anthers about 0.8-0.9 x 0.3-0.4 mm.

Fruit

Fruits glabrous, about 13-20 cm long. Seeds not acuminate or caudate at either end, about 5-6 x 1-2 mm, hairs about 4-6 mm long.

Seedlings

Cotyledons ovate, about 7-9 x 3-4 mm. First pair of leaves ovate, about 10-13 x 5-7 mm, margins smooth, glabrous. At the tenth leaf stage: leaves much paler on the underside. Plant entirely glabrous. Seed germination time 12 to 27 days.

Distribution and Ecology

Widespread in WA, NT and CYP, extending to NEQ about as far south as Rossville on the rain forest margin, but extending further south in inland areas. Altitudinal range from near sea level to about 600 m. Usually grows in open forest but also found in monsoon forest and on rain forest margins. This tree can tolerate fires as the stem is protected by a thick layer of corky bark. Also occurs in New Guinea.

Natural History & Notes

Apical dominance is maintained by one of two strategies: each internode is terminated by a whorl of three or more branches. Sometimes a bud on the upper surface of one of the branches in the terminal whorl becomes active and produces a vertical shoot which them becomes the mainstem. Usually, however, buds on the mainstem (below the terminal whorl of branches) become active and produce about three vertical shoots of which one becomes the mainstem.

Synonyms
Alyxia actinophylla A.Cunn., Curtis's Botanical Magazine 61 61: 3313(1834), Type: W.A., Montague Sound, 6 Sept. 1820, A. Cunningham 205; lecto: GH; iso: K. Fide J. Monachino, Pacific Sci. 3: 155 (1949). Alstonia verticillosa F.Muell., Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 6: 116(1868), Type: Qld, Cape York; E. Daemel; holo: MEL; iso: K.
RFK Code
739
Copyright © CSIRO 2020, all rights reserved.