Endiandra sideroxylon B.Hyland

Hyland, B.P.M. (1989) Australian Systematic Botany 2: 248. Type: B. Gray 266: State Forest Reserve 194 near Portion 69 Herberton, 12.i.1977 (QRS, holotypus).

Buff Walnut; Steelbutt; Walnut, Buff

A thin pale brown or cream layer normally visible under the subrhytidome layer before the first section of the outer blaze. On large trees the buttresses are conspicuous and resemble the tail fins on a rocket.

Twigs fluted, clothed in straight, appressed, pale brown hairs when young, almost glabrous when older. Leaf blades about 6-11 x 3-6 cm, thick and leathery, slightly arched on the upper surface between the main lateral veins, green on the underside, sparsely clothed in straight, appressed, pale brown hairs when young, glabrous when older. Midrib flush with or raised on the upper surface. Petioles flat or channelled on the upper surface. Oil dots visible with a lens.

Flowers opening quite widely, the tepals becoming +/- horizontal at anthesis. Tepals about 1.2-2.2 mm long. Staminal glands six, free from one another. Staminodes three, differentiated into a head and stalk.

Fruits ellipsoid, sometimes laterally compressed about 37-54 x 22-28.5 mm. Seed about 29-45 x 16-23 mm. Cotyledons cream to pink.

First pair of leaves ovate or lanceolate, about 60-105 x 20-35 mm, apex acuminate or acute, green on the underside. At the tenth leaf stage: leaves with a few short hairs on the upper surface along the midrib; oil dots very small, visible only with a lens. Seed germination time 32 to 45 days.

Endemic to NEQ, restricted to the Atherton Tableland and its vicinity. Altitudinal range from 140-1000 m. Grows in well developed rain forest on a variety of sites but probably reaching its best development on soils derived from basalt.

This species grows large enough to produce millable logs but the timber is rather hard and not very popular in the trade. Wood specific gravity 0.78-0.82. Hyland (1989).