Neofabricia myrtifolia (Gaertn.) Joy Thomps.

Myrtaceae

Thompson, J. (1981) Telopea 2: 380.

Usually flowers and fruits as a shrub but sometimes attains tree dimensions near rain forest.

Leaf blades about 35-50 x 7-11 mm, petioles short, about 1-2 mm long, or absent. Oil dots numerous. Terminal buds and young shoots clothed in prostrate silver hairs. Venation +/- parallel and longitudinal.

Flowers about 22-27 mm diam., emitting an unpleasant odour. Calyx lobes about 4 x 5 mm, outer surface of the calyx tube (hypanthium) clothed in prostrate silver hairs. Petals about 11 x 10 mm, glabrous. Stamens numerous, filaments yellow, about 6 mm long. Anthers globose, yellow, less than 1 mm long, locules separated by a spongy mass of tissue on the back of anther. Ovary 10-locular. Style about 4.5 mm long.

Fruits globular, about 7-8 mm diam., ten or more locular with tepals persistent around the equator. Seeds one per locule. Embryo about 2 mm long, cotyledons wider and longer than the radicle.

Cotyledons almost orbicular, about 3-6 x 2-4 mm, venation barely visible. Oil dots visible mainly around the margins. First leaves sub-opposite, about 9 x 1 mm. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade linear, sessile, about 10-20 x 1 mm. Stem clothed in fine erect hairs. Crushed leaves aromatic, the odour perhaps resembling lemons (Citrus limon). Seed germination time 18 to 38 days.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 100 m. Usually grows in open forest, heath and/or shrubland, occasionally found on rain forest margins.

This small tree has great horticultural potential because of the masses of large yellow flowers. Will grow in a variety of conditions.

Fabricia myrtifolia Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. Pl. 1: 175(1788), Type: Queensland, Endeavour River, 1770, Banks & Solander; iso: NSW.