Rhodamnia sessiliflora Benth.

Bentham, G. (1867) Flora Australiensis 3: 277. Type: Queensland. Rockingham Bay, Dallachy.

Iron Malletwood

Seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh. Dead bark layered. Living bark layer quite thin.

Young shoots and younger leaf bearing twigs clothed in pale or almost white hairs, older twigs with flaky bark. Leaf blades about 10-13 x 4-5.5 cm.

Inflorescence not exceeding the leaves, usually only slightly longer than the petioles. Calyx lobes about 1.5-2 mm long, pubescent on both the outer and inner surfaces. Petals oblong to orbicular, about 2.5-3 mm long, glabrous except for the ciliate margins. Ovary apex pubescent.

Infructescence not exceeding the leaves, usually not much longer than the petioles. Calyx lobes usually deciduous. Fruits globular, about 8 mm diam. Seeds variable in shape, about 3.5 x 3 mm.

Cotyledons ovate, about 8-10 mm long, apex acute or mucronate, base obtuse. Oil dots small, sparse, more numerous about the margins. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade elliptic, upper surface with a few pale hairs; oil dots small, visible only with a lens; leaf blade strongly 3-veined; petiole, stem and terminal bud clothed in pale hairs. Seed germination time 18 to 20 days.

Endemic to NEQ, widespread throughout the area. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 1000 m. Grows in lowland and upland rain forest on a variety of sites, also found in drier rain forest often associated with Kauri Pine (Agathis robusta).