Syzygium boonjee B.Hyland

Hyland, B.P.M. (1983) Australian Journal of Botany Supplementary Series 9: 59. Type: Qld,Timber Reserve 1230, Boonjee Logging Area 16.vi.1976, B. Hyland 8878; holo: QRS.

Boonjee Satinash

A small tree not exceeding 30 cm dbh.

Leaf blades about 5-12 x 1.7-3.5 cm, petioles about 0.2-0.5 cm long. Lateral veins scarcely visible on either the upper or lower surfaces. Oil dots visible with a lens. Midrib depressed on the upper surface.

Inflorescence few-flowered, bracts often present at anthesis. Calyx tube (hypanthium) + pedicel about 4-9 mm long, calyx tube (hypanthium) about 4-5.5 mm diam., calyx lobes +/- elliptic, but truncate at the base, about 4-6.5 mm long, +/- horizontal at anthesis. Petals orbicular, shortly clawed, about 5-6 mm diam., oil dots conspicuous, about 50-100 sparsely distributed over most of each petal. Outer staminal filaments about 15-30 mm long, anthers about 1.2 x 0.8 mm, gland rather large, dark and conspicuous, terminal, near the back of the anther. Ovules about 12-15 per locule, placentas central, ovules radiating, ascending. Style about 20-27 mm long, approximating the stamens.

Fruits depressed globular, globular to ovoid, attaining about 30-40 mm diam., calyx lobes persistent, about 5 mm long. Seed solitary, attaining about 20-30 mm diam., testa free from the somewhat spongy pericarp and slightly adherent to or +/- free from the smooth surface of the uniformly textured cotyledons. Radicle basal or central, cotyledonary stipules present.

Cataphylls about 2-4 pairs. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade elliptic, apex acuminate, base cuneate, glabrous; oil dots small and sparse, visible with a lens. Seed germination time 56 to 57 days.

Endemic to NEQ, largely restricted to the area between Gordonvale and Tully and westwards to the edge of the Atherton Tableland but also collected in the Daintree-Cape Tribulation area. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 750 m. Grows as an understory tree in well developed rain forest on a variety of sites.

This shrub or small tree has potential for tropical gardens. It will grow in shady conditions. The large flowers are brownish and the fruits are red.

This species has no commercial value as it is too small to produce millable logs and the fruits are of no interest.

Wood specific gravity 0.81. Hyland (1983).