Hedycarya loxocarya (Benth.) W.D.Francis

Monimiaceae

Francis, W.D. (1931) Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Kew : 458.

Yellow Beech; Beech, Yellow

Oak grain in the wood and a corresponding pattern in the inner blaze. Cream to yellowish brown, brittle stripes visible in the outer blaze.

Oak grain in the twigs, visible with a lens if not visible to the naked eye. Leaf blades about 9-13 x 4-5.5 cm. Lateral veins, about 7-12 on each side of the midrib, forming loops well inside the blade margin. Midrib slightly raised on the upper surface. Petiole channelled on the upper surface. Small oil dots visible with a lens.

Flowers about 3-6 mm diam. Connective extended beyond the apex of the anther as a pubescent, broadly spathulate appendage. Carpels pubescent, about 20-30, receptacle +/- domed, pubescent between the carpels.

Receptacle orange, sparsely pubescent, somewhat swollen. Fruiting carpels +/- ovoid, about 7 x 6 mm.

Cotyledons ovate, about 10-12 x 9-10 mm. First pair of leaves toothed. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade elliptic with scattered pale hairs on the upper surface, apex mucronate, base attenuate, midrib raised on the upper surface, margin dentate. Seed germination time 135 to 188 days.

Endemic to NEQ. Altitudinal range from 350-1150 m. Grows in well developed upland and mountain rain forest but often found on rain forest margins where it can be one of the components of the rain forest elements advancing into the wet sclerophyll forest.

Wilkiea loxocarya (Benth.) Perkins, Das Pflanzenreich 49: 26(1911). Mollinedia loxocarya Benth., Flora Australiensis 5: 287(1870), Type: Queensland. Rockingham Bay, Dallachy, Lecto: K; possible isolecto: Mel. ( fide Whiffin & Forman 2006).