Alphitonia petriei

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Alphitonia petriei
Alphitonia petriei Coffs.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rhamnaceae
Genus: Alphitonia
Species:
A. petriei
Binomial name
Alphitonia petriei
Braid & C.T.White

Alphitonia petriei, known as the white ash, is a rainforest tree in the family Rhamnaceae. It grows in eastern and northern Australia. Other common names include red ash, white-leaf, pink almond and pink ash. [1] It was originally collected from the Johnston River near Kuranda, and named in 1925 by K.W. Braid. [2] The authors gave it the species name petriei after W.R. Petrie, who alerted them to its distinctness. [1]

Alphitonia petriei is usually found as a small tree around 20 metres (66 feet) tall. However, it has been recorded at 40 metres (130 feet) tall with a stem diameter of 60 cm in Queensland. The trunk and larger branches bear fissured grey bark (darker brown in Queensland), and peeling or bruising of it gives off a strong scent of liniment, [1] which has been likened to oil of wintergreen. Arranged alternately on the smaller branches, simple narrow leaves measure 7–15 cm (3–6 in) in length and are dark glossy green above and covered with fine white hairs underneath. The tiny (0.5 cm diameter) creamy flowers have five petals and are found in panicles at the end of branchlets or between leaves. Flowering occurs in September to November, followed by the production of globular dark fruit around 1 to 1.5 cm diameter from February to July. [1]

It is found in coastal rainforest, and in ecotone areas in eucalyptus forest from Darwin and Thursday Island in northern Australia south along the eastern coastline to the Upper Orara River in New South Wales. [1] The leaves and shoots are eaten by farm animals. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Alphitonia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Alphitonia is a genus of arborescent flowering plants comprising about 20 species, constituting part of the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae). They occur in tropical regions of Southeast Asia, Oceania and Polynesia. These are large trees or shrubs. In Australia, they are often called "ash trees" or "sarsaparilla trees". This is rather misleading however; among the flowering plants, Alphitonia is not closely related to the true ash trees, and barely at all to the monocot sarsaparilla vines (Smilax).

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<i>Gossia acmenoides</i> Species of tree

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<i>Pomaderris aspera</i> Species of tree

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<i>Xylosma terrae-reginae</i> Species of tree

Xylosma terrae-reginae is a rainforest tree of eastern Australia. The habitat is in sea side or relatively dry rainforest areas, mostly on private property. Found as far south as Ballina, New South Wales to as far north as near Maryborough, Queensland. It is listed as endangered by extinction. As this is a relatively unknown plant, it has no common name as such, apart from the generic name Xylosma.

<i>Cupaniopsis newmanii</i> Species of tree

Cupaniopsis newmanii is a rainforest plant in the soapberry family. It is native to eastern Australia. The common name is long-leaved tuckeroo. A rare plant, with a ROTAP listing of 2RC-. The habitat sub tropical rainforest ranging from Mullumbimby in New South Wales to Gympie in south-eastern Queensland.

<i>Decaspermum humile</i> Species of tree

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<i>Planchonella queenslandica</i> Species of tree

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<i>Myoporum acuminatum</i> Species of tree

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<i>Archidendron muellerianum</i> Species of legume

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<i>Elattostachys xylocarpa</i> Species of tree

Elattostachys xylocarpa, known as the white tamarind or short-leaf beetroot is a common rainforest tree of eastern Australia. Found in the drier rainforests, which are based on volcanic soils. From as far south as the Orara River in northern New South Wales to Bowen in tropical Queensland. The name Elattostachys refers to "little spikes", a flower feature of other plants in this genus. xylocarpa refers to the hard woody fruit.

<i>Alphitonia whitei</i> Species of flowering tree, endemic to Queensland, Australia.

Alphitonia whitei is a species of flowering tree in the family Rhamnaceae, that is endemic to Queensland in Australia. It is locally known as red ash, red almond or sarsaparilla. When twigs or leaves are broken, a sarsaparilla or liniment type scent is emitted.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Floyd, A. G. (2008). Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia (2nd, Revised ed.). Lismore, New South Wales: Terania Rainforest Publishing. p. 324. ISBN   978-0-958943-67-3 . Retrieved 2011-01-10.
  2. "Alphitonia petriei Braid & C.T.White". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 16 March 2013.