Lomatia milnerae Olde

Olde, P.M. (2017) Telopea 20: 306.

Silky Oak; Lomatia Silky Oak; Oak, Lomatia Silky

Oak grain in the wood and a corresponding pattern in the inner blaze.

Oak grain in the twigs. Compound leaf axis about 1-3 mm diam. just below the first pair of leaflets, grooved or channelled on the upper surface. Leaflets turn almost black on drying on the forest floor. Young shoots densely clothed in short, rusty brown hairs. Leaves usually compound, about 20-40 cm long or longer, but occasionally reduced to simple leaves. Leaflet blades about 6-11 x 1.5-3 cm.

Flowers in pairs but usually without a common peduncle. Hypogynous glands three, green, each gland bilobed. Ovary glabrous, stalked, about 5 mm or longer. Ovules 10.

Follicles about 7-9 x 1 cm. Seed + wing about 4-5 cm long, wing about 3-4 x 0.9 cm. Seeds covered with yellow, pollen-like dust at maturity. Embryo about 10-12 x 5-6 mm.

Cotyledons oblong, 12-18 x 8-12 mm, apex truncate, base sagittate, slightly crenate to dentate, both the upper and lower surfaces hairy near the base. Petiole hairy. First few pairs of leaves toothed and lobed. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf or leaflet blades with a serrate to dentate margin, hairy on the upper surface along the midrib; petiole, terminal bud and stem clothed in brown, erect or prostrate hairs. Seed germination time 14 to 37 days.

Endemic to NEQ. Altitudinal range from 700-1200 m. Grows in well developed upland and mountain rain forest and more frequently encountered on soils derived from granite.

An attractive tree being used more frequently in horticulture for the attractive foliage and cream flowers. Also make an good indoor plant.

Lomatia fraxinifolia F.Muell. ex Benth., Flora Australiensis 5: 536 (1870). Type: Queensland. Rockingham Bay, Dallachy.