Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - Online edition

Argyrodendron sp. Boonjee (B.Hyland 2139RFK)


Tree
Click/tap on images to enlarge
Fruit, side views. © Stanley Breeden
Fruit, two views. © W. T. Cooper
Habit, flower, fruit, lepidote scale, seedling. © CSIRO
Scale bar 10mm. © CSIRO
10th leaf stage. © CSIRO
Cotyledon stage, epigeal germination. © CSIRO
Family

Provisional HISPID phrase name.

Common name

Oak, Red Tulip; Oak, Boonjie Tulip; Red Tulip Oak; Boonjee Tulip Oak

Stem

Bark often coarsely flaky but not obviously tessellated.

Leaves

Younger leaves shiny brown on the lower surface. Leaflet blades about 7.5-15 x 1.8-4.2 cm. Midrib slightly raised or slightly raised in a groove on the upper surface of the leaflet blade. Twig bark strong and fibrous when stripped. Pores in the twig pith visible with a lens and just visible to the naked eye.

Flowers

Outer surface of the flower buds clothed in pale brown scales. Flowers about 9-11 m diam. Inner surface of the perianth tube clothed in stellate hairs or scales to the base. Anthers about 21 per flower.

Fruit

Basal, i.e. globular part of the fruiting carpel +/- smooth, clothed in dark brown scales. Fruiting carpel + wing about 6-8 cm long.

Seedlings

Cotyledons fleshy, about 12 x 10 mm. First pair of leaves ovate, apex acuminate, lower surface brown from scales. At the tenth leaf stage: leaves glabrous on the upper surface, lower surface brown from scales, midrib flush with or depressed on the upper surface; stipules small, scaly, caducous. Seed germination time 16 to 36 days.

Distribution and Ecology

Probably endemic to NEQ, restricted to the Atherton Tableland and its immediate vicinity. Altitudinal range from 600-800 m. Grows in well developed upland rain forest and is usually found on deep red soils derived from basalt.

Natural History & Notes

Produces a useful general purpose timber suitable for house construction where not exposed to the weather. Particularly well suited for polished floors.

Wood specific gravity 0.91 Cause et al. (1989).

RFK Code
576
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