Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - Online edition

Ristantia pachysperma (F.M.Bailey) Peter G.Wilson & J.T.Waterh.


Tree
Click/tap on images to enlarge
Flowers. © Barry Jago
Flowers. © CSIRO
Leaves and Flowers. © CSIRO
Fruit, four views and seeds. © W. T. Cooper
Scale bar 10mm. © CSIRO
Cotyledon stage, epigeal germination. © CSIRO
10th leaf stage. © CSIRO
Family

Wilson, Peter G. & Waterhouse, J.T. (1982) Australian Journal of Botany 30: 443.

Common name

Penda, Yellow; Sour Hardwood; Yellow Penda; Johnstone River Yellowwood

Stem

The bark of the larger trees marked by long fissures. Blaze fibres interlocked, i.e. the fibres in different blaze layers are aligned in different directions. Blaze darkens on exposure.

Leaves

Pale brown oil dots visible with a lens. Leaf blades about 8-21 x 4-10.5 cm. Lateral veins curving inside the margin but not forming definite loops.

Flowers

Inflorescence up to 10 cm long. Sepals broadly triangular, about 1 mm long. Petals +/- orbicular, about 2-3 mm long. Stamens about 100, filaments up to 2 mm long. Style about 0.2-0.3 mm long.

Fruit

Fruit dehiscence limited by the thickened fruiting hypanthium which is well developed beneath the capsule. Fruiting hypanthium flat to very broadly obconical, rim not reflexed. Fruits about 15-20 mm diam. Seeds somewhat flattened +/- ovate, about 7-8 x 6-7 mm, testa +/- smooth. Cotyledons contorted and folded.

Seedlings

Cotyledons bilobed, +/- butterfly-shaped, apex broadly emarginate, base truncate to cordate. Oil dots numerous, reddish. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade obovate, apex obtuse, base attenuate but abruptly narrowed into the petiole, upper surface very finely hairy; oil dots numerous, visible with a lens; petiole clothed in short, prostrate, pale brown hairs.

Distribution and Ecology

Endemic to NEQ, restricted to the area between Cape Tribulation and Mourilyan. Altitudinal range from sea level to 100 m. Grows in well developed lowland rain forest often on the margins of freshwater swamps.

Natural History & Notes

Produces a general purpose structural timber.

Wood specific gravity 0.81. Cause et al. (1989).

Synonyms
Metrosideros pachysperma (Bailey) F.Muell., Second Systematic Census of Australian Plants : 100(1889). Tristania pachysperma (Bailey) W.D.Francis, The Queensland Naturalist 14: 56(1951). Xanthostemon pachyspermus F.Muell & F.M.Bailey, Occas. Pap. Queensland Flora 1: 4(1886), Type: Lecto: Johnstone River, T. L. Bancroft; holo: Bri 13083; syn: MEL, NSW. [Fide Wilson & Waterhouse (1982).].
RFK Code
423
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