Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - Online edition

Elaeocarpus ferruginiflorus C.T.White


Tree
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Leaves and Flowers. © CSIRO
Scale bar 10mm. © CSIRO
10th leaf stage. © CSIRO
Family

White, C.T. (1933) Contributions from the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University 4: 66. Type: Mt. Bellenden Ker, alt. 5200 ft., W.Sayer (type), distributed by F. v. Mueller as E. foveolatus.

Common name

Northern Quandong; Quandong; Quandong, Northern; Rusty Leaf Quandong

Stem

Lenticels very pale, tending to be arranged in vertical lines. White vertical stripes often visible in the outer blaze.

Leaves

Young leaves and shoots covered with a dense layer of rusty hairs which rub off easily and are shed as each leaf matures. Leaf blade rather thick and stiff, about 3.5-6 x 1.5-3.5 cm. Domatia are foveoles.

Flowers

Sepals less than 14 mm long. Petals about 6 x 1.5 mm, apex acute and entire or divided into 3 indistinct teeth. Stamens about 30-40. Ovary hairy.

Fruit

Fruits globular-ellipsoid, about 17 x 11 mm. Endocarp +/- smooth (not rugose), 3-sutured only near the apex.

Seedlings

At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade elliptic, apex acuminate, base attenuate, margin finely crenate, but each tooth ending in an aristate point; glabrous on the upper surface; secondary venation quite pronounced. Seed germination time 223 to 461 days.

Distribution and Ecology

Endemic to NEQ, restricted to the area between Mt Hartley and Hinchinbrook Island. Altitudinal range from 600-1550 m. Grows in upland and mountain rain forest, usually on windswept ridges.

Natural History & Notes

In horticulture this is a slow growing small tree with striking rusty coloured new foliage.

RFK Code
457
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