Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - Online edition

Ormosia ormondii (F.Muell.) Merr.


Tree
Click/tap on images to enlarge
Flowers. © B. Gray
Fruit, three dehisced and one side view. © W. T. Cooper
Dehisced fruit. © B. Gray
Scale bar 10mm. © CSIRO
Cotyledon stage, hypogeal germination. © CSIRO
10th leaf stage. © CSIRO
Family

Merrill, E.D. (1943) Sargentia 3: 79.

Common name

Yellow Bean; Bean, Yellow

Stem

Bark brownish or khaki coloured. Blaze odour resembling that of green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris).

Leaves

Compound leaves usually whorled or clustered in groups on the twigs. Leaflet blades about 7-21 x 3.5-8 cm. Midrib depressed on the upper surface of the leaflet blade, leaflet stalk slightly swollen, and transversely wrinkled but with a groove on the upper surface. Lateral veins curved throughout their length and forming only indistinct loops inside the blade margin.

Flowers

Calyx pubescent on the outer surface. Calyx tube longer than the lobes, lobes about 5 mm long. Petals glabrous, stalked, venation radiating from the base, petal + stalk about 20-25 mm long. Stamens 10, filaments pink, about 30 mm long. Ovary stalked, ovary and style pink, stigma green.

Fruit

Pods about 5-9 x 2 cm, constricted between the seeds, calyx usually persistent. Seeds turgid, about 10-12 x 8-10 mm. Testa hard, bright red, hilum basal, +/- orbicular or oval.

Seedlings

First pair of leaves ovate to narrowly cordate. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf or leaflet blades ovate, apex acuminate, base rounded, glabrous, very small scale leaves sometimes occur at the base of the pulvinus before the leaves are trifoliolate. Seed germination time 26 to 251 days.

Distribution and Ecology

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 400 m. Grows in well developed rain forest on a variety of sites but often encountered on creek and river banks.

Natural History & Notes

A medium to large tree suitable for parks and street plantings. The large bunches of pink flowers are attractive to Honeyeaters and Parrots.

Produces a useful general purpose timber.

Synonyms
Podopetalum ormondi F.Muell., Syst. Census Austral. Pl. 1882: 42(), Type: Queensland, Barron River, E. Cowley (?).
RFK Code
387
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