Sloanea australis subsp. parviflora Coode

Coode, M.J.E. (1983) Kew Bulletin 38: 385. Type: N. Queensland. East Malanda, 700 m, fl. 22 Sept. 1929, Kajewski 1218 (holotype K; isotypes A, P).

Blush Carabeen; Blush Alder; Carabeen, Blush; Maiden's Blush; Alder, Blush

Frequently a rather poorly formed tree with coppice shoots of various sizes at the base of the stem. Buttresses extend well up the bole so that it is seldom circular in section.

Stipules peg-like, about 5-6 mm long. Leaf blades about 12-20 x 4-10 cm. Midrib and main lateral veins raised on the upper surface. Domatia are tufts of hairs.

Sepals about 6-8 x 3-5 mm. Petals obovate or oblong, about 6-12 x 3-5.5 mm. Stamens about 36-50, all fertile, filaments short, not more than 1 mm long. Anthers densely clothed in short hairs. Ovary about 2-3 mm long, densely pilose or velvety, style about 2-3 mm long.

Fruits densely clothed (fruit surface not visible between them) in caducous bristles or spines about 2 mm long. Fruits usually 3 or 4-valved, about 15-17 x 15-17 mm beneath the spines. Seeds oblong, about 9-10 x 3-5 mm, almost completely enveloped by the aril.

Cotyledons oblong or elliptic, about 12-15 mm long. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade obovate, apex acuminate, base auriculate, margin crenate, with teeth from the base to the apex, upper surface glabrous or with a few short hairs along midrib, undersurface with hairs along midrib and main lateral veins; petioles hairy; stipules linear, persistent. Seed germination time 13 to 19 days.

Endemic to NEQ, widespread. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 1100 m. Grows in well developed rain forest on a variety of sites but often in sheltered situations along creeks and gullies.

Produces a useful pink to reddish cabinet timber usually without figure.

Wood specific gravity 0.62. Cause et al. (1989).