Musgravea heterophylla L.S.Sm.

Smith, L.S. (1969) Contributions from the Queensland Herbarium 6: 12. Type: 1 mile WSW. of Kuranda, Dansie AFO/2015 (holotypus, BRI.031170 isotypus, QRS) .

Oak, Briar; Briar Oak; Briar Silky Oak; Oak, Briar Silky; Brown Silky Oak; White Oak; Oak, White

Oak grain in the wood and a similar pattern in the inner blaze. Outer blaze often marked by white, granular stripes, the latter exhibiting oak grain.

Oak grain in the twigs. Leaf blades about 7-19 x 2.5-9 cm, brownish on the underside, becoming greenish when older. Petioles about 2-3 cm long. Young shoots and twigs densely clothed in short, rusty or dark brown hairs.

Racemes about 14-21 cm long. Flowers paired, each sessile on a common peduncle. Common and individual floral bracts present at anthesis. Hypogynous glands three, linear-subulate. Ovary sessile, ovules 1 or 2.

Fruits about 7.5-8.5 cm long. Seeds about 7-7.5 x 2-2.6 cm, wing marginal, about 3-18 mm wide. Embryo about 3-4 x 1-1.7 cm.

Cotyledons not emerging from the seed coat. Seed held in a vertical plane. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade lobed, each lobe like a large tooth, about 1-5 each side of the leaf blade, upper surface glabrous, undersurface brown from dense, matted hairs. Seed germination time 81 days.

Endemic to NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 1100 m. Grows in well developed lowland and upland rain forest.

Best known for the handsome, lobed juvenile leaves. Commonly used as an indoor plant.

Produces a very useful timber with a conspicuous oak grain.

Wood specific gravity 0.6780 Cause et al. (1989).