Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - Online edition

Ceratopetalum virchowii F.Muell.


Tree
Click/tap on images to enlarge
Flower. © Barry Jago
Flower and buds. © Barry Jago
Leaves and Flowers. © CSIRO
Leaves and fruit. © B. Gray
Scale bar 10mm. © CSIRO
Cotyledon stage, epigeal germination. © CSIRO
Family

Mueller, F.J.H. von (1890) The Victorian Naturalist 7: 181. Type: On Mount Bartle-Frere, in the higher region; Stephen Johnson.

Common name

Pink Sycamore; Sycamore, Pink; Dogwood

Stem

Lenticels large and conspicuous protruding from the trunk.

Leaves

Leaflet blades about 5-10 x 2-3.5 cm. Midrib depressed and leaflet stalk grooved on the upper surface. Lateral veins forming indistinct loops just inside the blade margin. Leaflet blade ending in a conspicuous drip tip up to about 15 mm long. Stipules about 5 x 1-3 mm.

Flowers

Tepals about 2.9-4.5 mm long. Anthers black.

Fruit

Fruits predominantly 5-winged, about 20-25 mm diam.

Seedlings

Cotyledons orbicular, about 13 mm diam. At the tenth leaf stage: lateral veins forming loops just inside the blade margin. Petiole channelled on the upper surface and midrib raised on the upper surface. Seed germination time 29 days.

Distribution and Ecology

Endemic to NEQ, restricted to the Bellenden Ker Range, Mt Bartle Frere and the adjacent parts of the Atherton Tableland. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 1500 m. Grows in well developed rain forest on a variety of rock types.

Natural History & Notes

Produces a useful general purpose structural timber. Wood specific gravity 0.75. Cause et al. (1989).

RFK Code
171
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