Syzygium pseudofastigiatum B.Hyland

Hyland, B.P.M. (1983) Australian Journal of Botany Supplementary Series 9: 113. Type: B. Hyland 2853 RFK: Lower reaches of Rocky River, 11.ix.1973 (holotypus QRS).

Satinash, Claudie; Claudie Satinash

Outer dead bark pale brown.

Leaf blades about 7-15 x 3-5 cm, petioles about 0.5-1.5 mm long. Oil dots generally sparsely distributed, visible with a lens or just visible to the naked eye. Midrib depressed on the upper surface.

Bracts deciduous, absent at anthesis. Calyx tube (hypanthium) + pedicel about 3.5-5 mm long, calyx tube (hypanthium) about 2.5-3.5 mm diam., calyx lobes short, rounded, about 0.3 mm long. Petals cohering and shed as an operculum (or operculum-like unit) each petal +/- orbicular or rounded, about 3-3.5 mm diam., oil dots up to about 30-40 per petal. Outer staminal filaments about 4-7 mm long, anthers about 0.6-0.7 x 0.5-0.7 mm, gland comparatively small, terminal, near the back of the anther. Ovules about 14-16 per locule, placentas central, ovules radiating, ascending. Style about 4-6 mm long, shorter than the stamens.

Fruits depressed globular or depressed obovoid, excavated at the apex, attaining about 20 x 25-35 mm, calyx lobes persistent but very small and inconspicuous, pericarp succulent. Seed solitary, attaining about 15-20 mm diam., testa adhering to the pericarp but free from the rugose surface of the uniformly textured cotyledons although penetrating between the cotyledons. Radicle central or lateral, cotyledonary stipules present.

Cataphylls about 3-5 pairs. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade elongate-obovate, apex rounded or acute, base attenuate, glabrous; oil dots small, visible with a lens. Seed germination time 19 to 37 days.

Endemic to CYP, widespread in the area. Altitudinal range from sea level to 450 m. Grows in well developed rain forest, dry rain forest and gallery forest.

A dense crowned tree that would be useful as an ornamental shade tree for parks and street plantings. Flowers are small but fruits are large and white.

Because of its recent recognition and occurrence in sparsely populated areas, this species has not been used commercially. It produces millable logs and could probably be sawn into structural timber. Wood specific gravity 0.84-0.90. Hyland (1983).