Xanthostemon arenarius Peter G.Wilson

Wilson, Peter G. (1993) Telopea 5(2): 305. Type: Queensland, 9.2 km from Elim on the road to Hopevale, J.R.Clarkson 8716 & V.J.Neldner, 23 May 1990; holo NSW; iso MBA,QRS,K.

Grows into a small to medium sized tree but sometimes flowers and fruits as a shrub.

Leaf blades about 7-10 x 3-5 cm, gradually narrowed into petioles about 0.8-1.6 cm long. Apex rounded or bluntly acuminate. Numerous small oil dots visible with a lens. Young shoots finely but sparsely hairy. Lateral veins about 7-9 on each side of the midrib.

Calyx lobes about 1.5-3 mm long. Petals obovate, about 4.5-6.5 x 3-5.5 mm. Stamens about 20, filaments yellow, about 10-19 mm long inserted in a hole or recess in the base of the anther. Anthers about 1.1-1.5 mm long. Style about 18-22 mm long. Ovules about 20 per locule, arranged in a whorl on the placenta.

Fruits about 8-12 x 10-15 mm, calyx lobes persistent at the base of the capsule. Seeds not winged, about 4.2-6 mm long.

Cotyledons +/- reniform, about 5-6 x 8-9 mm, i.e. wider than long, petioles about 1-2 mm long. First pair of leaves about 9-10.5 x 5-6 mm, apex obtuse or acute, base cuneate to attenuate, petioles about 1 mm long. Seed germination time 51 days.

Endemic to NEQ, known only from collections made in the Cape Bedford-Cape Flattery area north of Cooktown. Altitudinal range quite small, from near sea level to 100 m. Grows in rain forest and Araucarian forest on sand dunes close to the sea.