Gossia bamagensis N.Snow & Guymer

Snow, N. & Guymer, G.P. (2003) Systematic Botany Monographs 65: 65. Type: Qld, near Lockerbie, 10 deg 47, 142 deg 28, 1 Feb 1980, B. Hyland 10235; Holo: BRI; Iso: CANB, QRS.

Bamaga Ironwood; Lignum

A small tree seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh. Blaze conspicuously layered.

Midrib +/- flush with the upper surface. Oil dots visible with a lens. Usually two intramarginal veins, the outer one very close to the margin. Leaf blades about 6.5-11 x 3.5-5.5 cm.

Petals and calyx lobes pubescent adaxially. Petals about 4-5 mm long, about 100 oil dots per petal.

Fruits globular, about 6-10 mm diam., calyx persistent at the apex. Seeds about 5-6 x 4.5-5 mm, about three per fruit. Testa thin, creamy brown. Embryo coiled with the cotyledons in the centre, embryo about 12 x 1.5 mm when uncoiled. Radicle much longer than the cotyledons.

Cotyledons linear, about 4-6 x 1 mm, often recurved; oil dots just visible along the margin when using a lens. Stipules present, about 1 mm long. Hypocotyl swollen above ground level and tapering to the cotyledons. First pair of leaves elliptic, apex abruptly narrowed to a tip. Midrib raised on the upper surface. At the tenth leaf stage: stem strongly 4-angled to winged. Seed germination time 23 to 26 days.

Occurs in CYP and extends into the northern part of NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to about 100 m. Grows as an understory tree in gallery forest and the drier, more seasonal rain forest.