Cleistanthus semiopacus F.Muell. ex Benth.

Bentham, G. (1873) Flora Australiensis 6: 123. Type: Rockingham Bay, Dallachy.

Rusty Cleistanthus

Usually encountered as a small tree but trees to 50 cm dbh have been recorded.

Leaf blades about 4-12 x 2-4 cm, much paler on the underside. Lateral veins generally forming loops inside the blade margin. The underside of young leaf blades clothed in medifixed hairs. Terminal bud and young shoots densely clothed in short rusty hairs. Leafy twigs rather slender, about 1 mm diam. Petioles slightly swollen and finely wrinkled transversely.

Flowers about 4-5 mm diam. Calyx sericeous externally with brown hairs but glabrous on the inner surface. Ovary pubescent.

Fruit disintegrating at maturity leaving the stalk and central axis attached to the tree. Capsule (without stalk) about 5-7 mm long.

First pair of leaves subopposite, ovate, apex acute, base obtuse, hairy on the underside,. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade elliptic, apex acute or acuminate, base cuneate, young leaves often purplish. Seed germination time 7 to 17 days.

Endemic to NEQ, widespread from Bathurst Bay to Cardwell. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 750 m. Usually grows in beach forest and drier rain forest, often associated with Kauri Pine (Agathis robusta).