Syzygium apodophyllum (F.Muell.) B.Hyland

Myrtaceae

Hyland, B.P.M. (1983) Australian Journal of Botany Supplementary Series 9: 49.

Rex Satinash; Satinash, Rex

Seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh. Bark pale brown.

Petioles short, about 0.1-0.2 cm long. Leafy twigs 4-winged, pairs of wings being fused above each pair of leaves to form a pocket. Twig wings frequently obscuring the petiole so that the leaves appear sessile. Leaf blades about 3.6-8 x 1.4-3 cm. Midrib depressed on the upper surface.

Bracts subulate, about 0.4-0.6 mm, present at anthesis, reduced leaves about 3 mm long also present. Calyx tube (hypanthium) gradually tapering into a long pedicel, calyx tube (hypanthium) + pedicel about 10-13 mm long, tube (hypanthium) about 3-4.5 mm diam., calyx +/- operculate, splitting once diametrically and opening as a large pore with a +/- smooth margin. Petals orbicular, about 8 mm diam., oil dots numerous and conspicuous, about 20-80 per petal. Outer staminal filaments about 4-9 mm long, anthers about 0.7 x 0.6 mm, gland +/- terminal, near the back of the anther. Ovules about 8-12 per locule, placentas axile, ovules +/- horizontal or slightly ascending. Style about 10-12 mm long, equal to or exceeding the stamens.

Fruits irregularly pyriform, about 12-13 x 8-9 mm, calyx lobes not discernible, but the ragged calyx fragments persistent, pericarp fleshy, cells radiating from the testa to the exocarp.

Cataphylls about 2 or 3 pairs. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade ovate or lanceolate, apex acuminate, base cuneate or obtuse, glabrous; oil dots small, visible with a lens; stem distinctly 4-winged. Seed germination time 47 to 64 days.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 1500 m. Grows as an understory tree in well developed rain forest on a variety of sites but tends to be more common in mountain rain forest.

Generally a small poorly formed tree of no commercial value.

Wood specific gravity 0.80. Hyland (1983).

Eugenia apodophylla F.Muell., Victorian Naturalist 8: 197(1892), Type: Bellenden Ker Range, W. Sayer; lecto: MEL 60073. Fide Hyland (1983).