Dimorphocalyx australiensis C.T.White

Euphorbiaceae

White, C.T. (1936) Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 47: 80. Type: Mowbray River, in rain forest, L.J. Brass, No. 2019 (male flowers. 23rd January).

Shipton's Glory

Seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh. Living bark layer quite thin.

Leaf blades about 8.5-15 x 3.5-6.5 cm. Midrib slightly raised and petiole channelled on the upper surface. Lateral veins forming fairly indistinct loops inside the blade margin. Stipules small and inconspicuous.

Flowers about 9-12 mm diam. Five stamens opposite the petals plus one central staminal column with three pairs of anthers.

Fruits about 8 mm diam., splitting or dehiscing explosively to release and fling the seeds some distance from the tree. Outer surface of the fruit clothed in fine hairs and short bristle-like appendages.

Cotyledons almost orbicular, about 15-20 mm diam. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade elliptic, margins +/- crenate, stipules triangular. Seed germination time 8 to 20 days.

Occurs in WA, CYP, NEQ and CEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 500 m. Grows in monsoon forest and drier rain forest. Also occurs in New Guinea and other islands in east Malesia.

This shrub or small tree has horticultural potential producing numerous white flowers.

Tritaxis australiensis S.Moore, Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany 45 : 218(1920), Type: Queensland, Cape York; Daemel.