Syzygium gustavioides (F.M.Bailey) B.Hyland

Hyland, B.P.M. (1983) Australian Journal of Botany Supplementary Series 9: 93.

Satinash, Grey; Grey Satinash; Yellow Satinash; Watergum

Prop roots or flying buttresses often present at the base of the stem.

Intramarginal veins two, sometimes 3-4, visible on each leaf blade. Oil dots visible with a lens if not visible to the naked eye. Leaf blades about 6-14 x 2.6-7 cm. Petiole grooved and midrib depressed on the upper surface. Blade margin recurved or undulate.

Bracts deciduous, absent at anthesis. Calyx tube (hypanthium) + pedicel about 5-8 mm long, calyx tube (hypanthium) about 3.5-6 mm diam. Petals free or slightly attached to the calyptrate, rostrate calyx, variable in size and shape, about 3-4 mm diam., oil dots visible, up to 20 per petal, depending on petal size. Outer staminal filaments about 2-4.5 mm long, anthers usually wider than long, about 0.3 x 0.8 mm, opening in short +/- parallel slits, gland not visible. Ovules about 4-8 per locule, placentas central, ovules attached by the middle. Style about 4-7 mm long, rather stout, approximating the stamens.

Fruit colour variable, fruit frequently falling while still greenish, but apparently ripening to greenish brown, reddish brown and pinkish grey. Fruits attaining about 60-90 mm diam., globular, but with an apical tonsure-like section (resulting from the short but persistent calyx rim), calyx lobes absent, pericarp leathery but brittle, finely granular in texture. Seed solitary, attaining about 50 mm diam. or more, testa adhering to the pericarp but quite free from the uniformly textured cotyledons. Radicle central or basal.

Cataphylls about 5-7 pairs. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade +/- elliptic, apex acute or acuminate, base cuneate or obtuse, glabrous; oil dots just visible to the naked eye; lateral veins forming loops inside the intramarginal vein and almost forming a second intramarginal vein. Seed germination time 37 to 56 days.

Endemic to NEQ, restricted to the area between Cooktown and Tully. Altitudinal range from sea level to 1200 m. Grows in well developed rain forest on a variety of sites.

This species produces a very popular and useful structural timber which is marketed as Grey Satinash, it is widely appreciated in North Queensland. Wood specific gravity 0.67-0.69. Hyland (1983).