Diploglottis smithii S.T.Reynolds

Reynolds, S.T. (1981) Austrobaileya 1(3): 393. Type: Cook District: Paronella Park, Mena Creek near Innisfail, Aug 1948, L.S. Smith s.n. (BRI, holotypus).

Tamarind, Wild; Smith's Tamarind; Tamarind; Tamarind, Smith's; Wild Tamarind

Sapwood surface corrugated. Blaze odour somewhat obnoxious like Poison Peach (Trema aspera).

Leaf bearing twigs longitudinally grooved. Leaflet blades quite large, about 12-24 x 6-8 cm or larger. Young shoots densely clothed in brown hairs. Leaflet stalk grooved on the upper surface and swollen at its junction with the compound leaf rhachis. Midrib slightly raised in a groove on the upper surface of the leaflet blade.

Inflorescence scurfy, clothed in pale hairs. Young inflorescences with conspicuous large bracts about 5-35 x 2-7 mm. Flowers about 5 mm diam. Calyx shortly cupular, lobes five, ovate, subequal, flat not concave. Fifth petal usually reduced. Stamens eight.

Seeds laterally compressed, about 13 x 10 mm, completely enveloped by the aril. Fruits +/- glabrous, very shortly tomentellous externally.

First pair of leaves elliptic, about 4-7 x 2-3 cm, lateral veins about 9-13 on each side of the midrib. Underside hairy on the midrib and lateral veins. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade usually simple, sometimes compound, leaf or leaflet blade elliptic, apex acuminate; upper surface of the leaf or leaflet blade with a few hairs along the midrib only; petiole, leaflet stalk, rhachis and compound leaf petiole hairy with short, dark brown hairs; terminal bud densely clothed in dark brown hairs. Seed germination time 14 to 28 days.

Endemic to NEQ, restricted to the area between Cooktown and Mourilyan. Altitudinal range from sea level to 450 m. Grows in well developed lowland rain forest sometimes ascending the foothills.

A small tree with attractive foliage and large green fruits with red arils. Performs well in cultivation.