Syzygium forte subsp. potamophilum B.Hyland

Hyland, B.P.M. (1983) Australian Journal of Botany Supplementary Series 9: 90. Type: B. Hyland 3373 RFK: Katherine Gorge, 22.xi.1975. (holotypus QRS).

Flaky Barked Satinash; White Apple; Apple, White; Satinash, Flaky Barked

Bark usually somewhat pink, reddish or reddish brown, generally papery, but sometimes forming hard patches in places.

Leaf blades about 7.7-12.8 x 2.5-6 cm and petioles about 0.5-1.6 cm long. Midrib raised or flush with the upper surface. Oil dots visible with a lens if not visible to the naked eye. Leafy twigs often reddish and bark on older twigs flaky or papery.

Inflorescence terminal on branches produced below or back from the leaves or inside the crown of the tree, bracts deciduous, absent at anthesis. Calyx tube (hypanthium) + pedicel about 5-9 mm long, calyx tube (hypanthium) about 5-8 mm diam., calyx lobes +/- uniform, rounded, about 1-3 mm long. Petals +/- orbicular, about 6.5-7.5 mm diam., oil dots visible, small, about 100 or more per petal. Outer staminal filaments about 9-15 mm long, anthers about 0.8-0.9 x 0.6 mm, gland terminal, near the back of the anther. Ovules about 20-40 per locule, placentas central, ovules radiating, ascending. Style about 8-17 mm long, approximating or shorter than the stamens.

Fruits depressed globular, about 25 x 30 mm., calyx lobes generally persistent, about 1.5 mm long, pericarp fleshy. Seed solitary, about 15-25 mm diam., testa adhering to the pericarp and adhering slightly to the rugose surface of the cotyledons by means of granular horny intrusions, cotyledons uniformly textured, except for the +/- ruminate peripheral section.

Cataphylls about 3-6 pairs. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade narrowly obovate, apex obtuse or rounded, base attenuate, glabrous; oil dots quite numerous, visible to the naked eye and readily visible with a lens.

At present thought to be endemic to Australia, occurs in WA, NT, CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 200 m. Grows in gallery forest.

Although this subspecies grows large enough to produce millable logs they are seldom utilized for the production of sawn timber because of the scattered distribution of trees and the sparse human population in the area where they occur.

Wood specific gravity 0.74-0;.93. The fruit is sometimes eaten but has no commercial value. Hyland (1983).