Syzygium mulgraveanum (B.Hyland) Craven & Biffin

Myrtaceae

Craven, L.A., Biffin, E. & Ashton, P.S. (2006) Blumea 51(1): 138.

Sections of bark included in the wood. Living bark layer very thin.

Young twigs 4-angled or shortly 4-winged, the wings sometimes wavy. Leaf blades about 8.1-11.5 x 2.2-5.8 cm. Petioles about 0.2-0.5 cm long. Midrib depressed on the upper surface.

Inflorescence branches, particularly the finer branches conspicuously 4-angled or with four short rugate wings, bracts deciduous, but often present at anthesis. Calyx tube (hypanthium) + pedicel about 2.5-3.5 mm long, calyx tube (hypanthium) about 2-3 mm diam., calyx lobes triangular, about 0.5 mm long. Petals +/- orbicular, about 1.5-2 mm diam., oil dots comparatively large, up to 20 per petal. Outer staminal filaments about 3-6 mm long, anthers about 0.3 x 0.3 mm, gland absent or inconspicuous. Ovules pendulous from placentas near the apex of each locule, ovules about 3 or 4 per locule. Style about 3-7 mm long, approximating the stamens.

Fruits very depressed, almost discoid, attaining about 12 x 20 mm, apex excavated, surface longitudinally ribbed or grooved, calyx lobes persistent but inconspicuous, pericarp forming a very thin skin (about 0.2 mm thick) around the cotyledons, testa absent or indistinguishable from the pericarp. Seed solitary, only slightly smaller than the fruit, pericarp free from the cotyledons but not easily separable because of their grooved surfaces. Cotyledons ruminate with an amorphous, pale (not dark, even though the structure is pale it may be darker than the surrounding tissue in the cotyledons) central structure with a distinct vascular connection with the base of the fruit. Radicle basal, cotyledonary stipules present.

Cataphylls about 2-4 pairs, opposite, subopposite or alternate. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade ovate or elliptic, apex acuminate, base cuneate or obtuse, glabrous; oil dots small, visible only with a lens; petiole short, stem shortly 4-winged. Seed germination time 19 to 32 days.

Endemic to NEQ, restricted to the area between Bloomfield and Innisfail and the southern edge of the Atherton Tableland. Altitudinal range from sea level to 700 m. Grows in well developed lowland and upland rain forest. Frequently found near watercourses but not restricted to that habitat.

This species has no commercial value because of the sections of bark included in the wood. Wood specific gravity 0.72. Hyland (1983).

Waterhousea mulgraveana B.Hyland, Australian Journal of Botany Supplementary Series 9: 143(1983), Type: A.W. Dockrill 1295: State Forest Reserve 675, East Mulgrave Logging Area, 7.x.1976 (holotypus QRS).