Syzygium banksii (Britten & S.Moore ex S.Moore) B.Hyland

Hyland, B.P.M. (1983) Australian Journal of Botany Supplementary Series 9: 58.

Satinash, Joseph's; Joseph's Satinash

Often poorly formed and multistemmed but under favourable conditions grows into a reasonable tree. Bark coarsely flaky particularly on larger trees. Blaze deep, dark red on large trees.

Leaf blades about 8-12 x 2-4 cm, petioles about 0.3-1.3 cm long. Oil dots visible with a lens if not visible to the naked eye.

Bracts caducous, absent at anthesis. Calyx tube (hypanthium) gradually tapering into the pedicel, calyx tube (hypanthium) + pedicel about 4.5-6.5 mm long, calyx tube (hypanthium) about 2.5-5 mm diam., calyx lobes acute, incurved and hooked at the apex, about 0.4-0.5 mm long. Petals orbicular, about 1.5 mm diam., oil dots scarce, usually fewer than ten per petal, concentrated towards the base. Outer staminal filaments about 4-5 mm long, anthers +/- reniform, broader than long, about 0.6 x 0.7 mm, opening in divergent slits which are almost contiguous at the apex, gland terminal. Ovules about 5 or 6 per locule, placentas axile, central, ovules horizontal to radiating. Style about 6-7 mm long, approximating the stamens.

Fruits ellipsoid, about 12-15 x 8-11 mm, calyx lobes persistent, small and inconspicuous, about 0.2-0.4 mm long, pericarp fleshy. Seed solitary, about 9 x 6 mm, testa weakly adhering to the pericarp but free from the superposed, uniformly textured cotyledons. Radicle lateral, cotyledonary stipules present, difficult to distinguish.

Cataphylls about 2 or 3 pairs. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade linear, apex acuminate or obtuse, base attenuate, glabrous; oil dots sparse, often difficult to see; stem 4-angled or shortly 4-winged. Seed germination time 29 to 51 days.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range from sea level to 100 m. Grows in vine thickets and beach forest on coastal sand dunes and on old beach lines.

Generally a poorly formed uncommon tree (though locally abundant) of no commercial value. Could be of value in sand stabilization.

Wood specific gravity 1.01. Hyland (1983).