Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - Online edition

Lophostemon lactifluus (F.Muell.) Peter G.Wilson & J.T.Waterh.


Shrub (woody or herbaceous, 1-6 m tall)
Tree
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Leaves and flowers. © Australian Plant Image Index (APII). Photographer: J. Wrigley.
Scale bar 10mm. © CSIRO
Family

Wilson, Peter G. & Waterhouse, J.T. (1982) Australian Journal of Botany 30: 428.

Stem

Pale brown, brittle stripes in the blaze. Dead bark layered, often soft and somewhat compressible.

Leaves

Young twigs and petioles produce a milky exudate. Leaf blades about 10-14 x 2.7-6 cm. Midrib +/- flush with the upper surface of the leaf blade. Oil dots numerous, one or more per reticulation. Young shoots and terminal bud glabrous.

Flowers

Flowers about 6 mm diam. Calyx lobes obtuse, persistent, about 3 mm long. Petals about 5 x 4 mm long. Staminal fascicles five, each about 2-3 mm long, opposite the petals. Usually 12-25 stamens per fascicle. Anthers less than 2 mm long, tipped by a conspicuous terminal gland. Style about 2 mm long.

Fruit

Fruit about 3-16 mm diam., seeds about 1-1.5 mm long.

Seedlings

Features not available.

Distribution and Ecology

Endemic to NT. Altitudinal range small, from sea level to 300 m. Grows in swampy open forest country or in close proximity to watercourses. Sometimes occurs in gallery forest or on rain forest margins.

Synonyms
Tristania lactiflua F.Muell., Fragm. 1: 82(1859), Type: Northern Territory, near McAdam Range, F. Mueller, Oct. 1855; holo: MEL.
RFK Code
1024
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