Argophyllum ferrugineum A.R.Bean & P.I.Forst.

Bean, A.R. & Forster, P.I. (2018) Austrobaileya 10(2): 215-217, Figs. 2A-C, 3, Map 3. Type: "Queensland. North Kennnnedy District: Tully Falls weir, 23 November 1995, P.I. Forster PIF18195 & T. Spokes (holo: BRI [2 sheets + spirit]; iso: CNS, K, MEL, NSW)."

Shrub 1-4 m high. Hairs on new growth rusty or brown; hairs on branchlets more than 10 cm from growing point rusty or brown.

Petiole 18-30 mm long; fully expanded lamina elliptic to obovate or broadly-elliptic, 117-182 mm long, 38-95 mm wide, 1.9-2.7 times longer than wide; (6-)8-10(-12) secondary veins on either side of midrib. Lamina apex shortly acuminate, or occasionally acute; base cuneate, not oblique or occasionally oblique by up to 3 mm. Lamina margins dentate, with teeth all about the same size, or varying in length (alternating long and short), 17-49 on each side of the lamina, the longer teeth 0.7-2 mm long. Upper surface of fully expanded lamina green, with persistent hairs, sparse to moderately dense, appressed, 0.5-0.7 mm long. Lower surface of lamina white or sometimes rusty-coloured (coppery-brown), hairs appressed; secondary veins brown, raised; tertiary veins brown, ± flush with indumentum.

Inflorescences axillary, paniculate, 33-75 mm long, densely tomentose, primary axis 25-63 mm long, secondary branches 9-30 mm long, bracts narrowly-deltate, 2-6.3 mm long. Pedicels 1.3-2 mm long; flowering hypanthium cupular, 3.1-3.9 mm diameter. Flowers about 4-5 mm diam. Calyx lobes 1.5-1.9 mm long; petals 4-4.2 mm long, white, corolla appendages white, 1-1.4 mm long. Staminal filaments 1-1.6 mm long; anthers 0.8-0.9 mm long. Style 1.1-1.6 mm long; ovary 2-locular. Disk yellow to orange, margin crenate.

Capsules with cupular to hemispherical hypanthium, 2.8-3.3 mm long, 3.8-5 mm diameter, teeth 4, slightly exserted. Seeds 0.5-0.6 mm long, numerous. Testa rugose with a hexagonal pattern. Embryo small, cotyledons and radicle straight.

Cotyledons orbicular, about 2-3 mm diam. First pair of true leaves +/- ovate, margin with a few coarse teeth. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade surface somewhat bullate and the margin strongly serrate. Lower surface of the leaf blade densely clothed in white prostrate hairs except for the pale brown hairs on the midrib and the main lateral veins. Terminal bud and stem densely clothed in pale brown prostrate hairs. Seed germination time 21 to 25 days.

Endemic to NEQ, known only from collections made in the Koolmoon Creek, Tully Falls and Kirrama regions. Altitudinal range from 600-1080 m. Grows as an understory plant in rocky areas along creeks in gallery forest and rainforest.