Syzygium resa (B.Hyland) Craven & Biffin

Myrtaceae

Craven, L.A., Biffin, E. & Ashton, P.S. (2006) Blumea 51(1): 139.

Red Eungella Gum; Satinash, Red Eungella; Watergum; Red Eungella Satinash

One of the larger trees encountered, particularly in mountain rain forests. Dead bark usually reddish or orange-brown when cut.

Leaf blades about 5-11.1 x 1.4-5.2 cm. Midrib depressed on the upper surface and petiole grooved on the upper surface. Oil dots numerous and conspicuous.

Inflorescence exceeding the leaves, bracts deciduous, absent at anthesis. Calyx tube (hypanthium) tapering gradually into the pedicel, calyx tube (hypanthium) + pedicel about 3.2-5.5 mm long, calyx tube (hypanthium) about 1.5-2.8 mm diam., calyx lobes rounded, small and inconspicuous, about 0.1-0.2 mm long. Petals +/- cohering by their inflexed tips, irregular in shape, about 0.9 x 0.9 mm, oil dots comparatively large, but often difficult to discern, up to five per petal. Staminal filaments variable, outer about 1-2.4 mm long, anthers wider than long, about 0.2-0.3 x 0.3-0.4 mm, gland small, terminal. Placentas confined to the apex of each locule. Ovules pendulous, about 10-20 per locule. Style about 0.6-1.4 mm long, approximating the top of the calyx tube (hypanthium), but substantially below the anthers.

Fruits globular or depressed globular, flattened or shallowly excavated at the apex, attaining about 12-16 mm diam., calyx lobes not discernible on mature fruit. Seed attaining about 9-13 mm diam. Cotyledons with a conspicuous, hard, dark, tanniferous, branching inclusion ramifying through most of the cotyledonary tissue, cotyledonary stipules present.

Cataphylls about 1-3 pairs. At the tenth leaf stage: seedling completely glabrous, leaf blade elliptic, apex acute, base cuneate to attenuate; oil dots numerous, clearly visible with a lens. Seed germination time 35 days.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in NEQ and CEQ. Altitudinal range from 200-1300 m. Grows in well developed rain forest on a variety of sites but is more common in upland and mountain rain forest.

This species produces millable logs and the sawn timber is marketed as Red Eungella Satinash, useful, but not popular, structural timber. Wood specific gravity 0.77-0.82. Hyland (1983).

Acmena resa B.Hyland, Australian Journal of Botany Supplementary Series 9: 16(1983), Type: B. Hyland 5760: near National Park Reserve 353 Mt Hypipamee, 12.i.1972 (holotypus QRS).