Pomaderris argyrophylla N.A.Wakef.

Wakefield, N.A. (1951) The Victorian Naturalist 68: 142. Type: Cooloolabin, Blackall Range, Queensland; 15/10/1943; C.T. White, No. 12322 (Bris.).

Pomaderris; Pomaderris, Tropical; Tropical Pomaderris

Occasionally grows to a height of about 5 m but usually flowers and fruits as a shrub 2-3 m tall.

Leaf blades about 6.5-13 x 1.3-3 cm. Underside of the leaf blades densely clothed in white, prostrate, felty hairs. Lateral veins forming loops inside the blade margins. Petioles about 0.6-1.3 cm long, grooved or channelled on the upper surface. Stipules narrowly triangular, about 4.5-5.5 x 1-2 mm, sheathing the terminal bud and overlapping one another in the leaf axils.

Pedicels about 2-4 mm long. Calyx tube (hypanthium) densely clothed in pale prostrate hairs on the outer surface. Sepals about 2 x 1 mm. Petals five, often falling early. Staminal filaments about 1.5 mm long, inflexed before anthesis. Anthers about 0.3-0.4 mm long. Ovary densely clothed in pale hairs.

Fruits ellipsoid to ellipsoid-obovoid, about 3-3.5 x 2-2.5 mm, outer surface clothed in pale hairs, inner surface glabrous. Seeds about 2.5 x 1.5 mm with a caruncle at one end.

Cotyledons about 3-5 x 1-3 mm. Hypocotyl and cotyledonary petiole minutely hairy. First pair of leaves about 2.5 x 2 mm with a tooth on each side near the apex. At the tenth leaf stage: younger leaf blade densely clothed with white hairs on the underside. Lateral veins forming loops inside the blade margin. Lateral veins depressed on the upper surface of the leaf blade. Stipules narrowly triangular, up to 4 mm long. Seed germination time 25 to 27 days.

Occurs in NEQ, CEQ and southwards as far as north eastern New South Wales. Altitudinal range in NEQ from 400-1100 m. Usually grows in wet sclerophyll forest as an understory plant in Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus grandis) forest but also extending out into the drier eucalypt forests. Occasionally found on the margins of rain forest.

A fast growing shrub with potential for gardens in dryer areas. Pale yellow perfumed flowers are produced in profusion.