Syzygium hemilamprum subsp. orophilum (B.Hyland) Craven & Biffin

Myrtaceae

Craven, L.A., Biffin, E. & Ashton, P.S. (2006) Blumea 51(1): 137.

Satinash, Mountain; Mountain Satinash

Sometimes small and poorly formed, but developing into a fairly large tree in protected situations. Bark variable, sometimes showing scroll marks, i.e. curved parallel lines.

Oil dots numerous. Leaf blades about 3.2-6.9 x 1.2-2.7 cm. Midrib depressed on the upper surface. Lateral veins scarcely visible on fresh leaves.

Inflorescence scarcely exceeding the leaves, bracts deciduous, absent at anthesis. Calyx tube (hypanthium) gradually tapering into the pedicel, calyx tube (hypanthium) + pedicel about 3-6 mm long, calyx tube (hypanthium) about 2-3.5 mm diam., calyx lobes rounded, small and inconspicuous, about 0.2-0.4 mm long. Petals +/- cohering by their inflexed tips, rather irregular, +/- orbicular, about 1-1.5 mm diam.; oil dots comparatively large, but often difficult to discern, up to nine per petal. Staminal filaments variable, outer longer, about 1.3-2.5 mm long, glandular, anthers wider than long, about 0.3 x 0.5 mm, gland small, terminal, inconspicuous. Placentas confined to the apex of each locule. Ovules pendulous, about 6-16 per locule. Style about 0.8-1.5 mm long, approximating the top of the calyx tube (hypanthium), but substantially below the anthers.

Fruits globular or depressed globular, shallowly excavated at the apex, attaining about 10 x12-16 mm, calyx lobes not or scarcely discernible on mature fruit. Seed attaining about 6-16 mm diam. Cotyledons with a conspicuous, hard, tanniferous inclusion in the centre and branches ramifying through the cotyledons, cotyledonary stipules small and inconspicuous.

Cataphylls about 2-4 pairs, opposite or alternate. At the tenth leaf stage: seedling completely glabrous, leaf blade elliptic to obovate, apex acute, base cuneate or attenuate; oil dots numerous, almost visible to the naked eye and clearly visible with a lens. Seed germination time 38 to 108 days.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range from 450-1550 m. Grows in well developed upland and mountain rain forest.

This subspecies produces millable logs but is of rare and infrequent occurrence and thus has not been recognized as a commercial species. Wood specific gravity 0.88. Hyland (1983).

Acmena hemilampra subsp. orophila B.Hyland, Australian Journal of Botany Supplementary Series 9: 13(1983), Type: Qld, State Forest Reserve, 143 North Mary Logging Area, 17.xii.1974, B. Hyland 3146 RFK; holo: QRS.