| Chain fruit | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Alyxia |
| Species: | A. oblongata |
| Binomial name | |
| Alyxia oblongata | |
| Synonyms [3] | |
| |
Alyxia oblongata, commonly known as the chain fruit, prickly lixy, or prickly Alyxia, is a plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae endemic to a small part of northeastern Queensland.
Alyxia oblongata is an evergreen shrub growing up to 3 m (9.8 ft) high. [4] The dark glossy green leaves are borne in whorls of three or four on the twigs, and measure about 3.5 by 1 cm (1.38 by 0.39 in). [4] They are elliptic with a sharp, rigid tip and have up to 20 lateral veins. [4]
The flowers are typical of the family, being white with five sepals and petals and a long corolla tube. They measure about 13 mm (0.51 in) long and 17 mm (0.67 in) diameter. [4] [5] The fruit are orange/red in colour and may be moniliform, i.e. with the appearance of a string of beads. [4]
This species was first described in 1928 by the Czech botanist Karel Domin, who published his description in Bibliotheca Botanica . In 1992 the Australian botanist Paul Irwin Forster redefined it as a subspecies of Alyxia ruscifolia, namely A.r. ssp. major, however this combination is no longer accpted by most authorities. [2] [3] [6]
The genus name Alyxia is derived from the Greek language word álysos, "chain", which refers to the chain-like appearance of the fruit. The species epithet oblongata is from "oblong" and again refers to the appearance of the fruit. [7]
The chain fruit is endemic to northeastern Queensland, from near Cooktown to the southern Atherton Tablelands. It grows in rainforest on volcanic soils of various types, at altitudes from 100 m (330 ft) to 1,000 m (3,300 ft). [4] [5]
This species is listed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern. [1] As of 28 January 2023 [update] , it has not been assessed by the IUCN.
Agathis robusta, commonly known as Dundathu pine, kauri pine, Queensland kauri (pine), Australian kauri (pine) or smooth-barked kauri, is a coniferous tree in the family Araucariaceae. Although sometimes called a pine it is not a true pine, having leaves rather than needles. It has a disjunct distribution, occurring in Papua New Guinea and Queensland, Australia. Populations in Papua New Guinea may be treated as the distinct species Agathis spathulata.
Floydia is a monotypic genus of plants in the macadamia family Proteaceae which is endemic to Australia. The sole described species is Floydia praealta, commonly known as the ball nut. It is a somewhat rare tree found only growing in the rainforests of southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales. The tree has a superficial resemblance to the closely related Macadamia and could be confused with them. The fruit of F. praealta is poisonous.
Athertonia is a monotypic genus of plants in the family Proteaceae. The sole described species is Athertonia diversifolia, commonly known as Atherton oak, athertonia, creamy silky oak or white oak. It is endemic to a small part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia. A relative of the macadamia, it has potential in horticulture and the bushfood industry.
Alpinia caerulea, commonly known as native ginger or Australian ginger, is an understorey perennial herb in the family Zingiberaceae which grows in rainforest, gallery forest and wet sclerophyll forest in eastern Australia.
Cardwellia is a monotypic genus in the plant family Proteaceae. The sole described species is Cardwellia sublimis − commonly known as northern silky oak, bull oak or lacewood − which is endemic to the rainforests of northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Alchornea ilicifolia, commonly known as the native holly, is a bush of eastern Australia. It grows in or on the edges of the drier rainforests in coastal parts of New South Wales and Queensland.
Buckinghamia celsissima, commonly known as the ivory curl tree, ivory curl flower or spotted silky oak, is a species of tree in the family Proteaceae. It is endemic to the tropical rainforests of northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Opisthiolepis is a monotypic genus of trees in the macadamia family Proteaceae. The sole species is Opisthiolepis heterophylla, commonly known as blush silky oak, pink silky oak, brown silky oak or drunk rabbit. It was first described in 1952 and is endemic to a small part of northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Carnarvonia araliifolia, commonly known as the red oak, red silky oak, Caledonian oak or elephant's foot, is the sole species in the monotypic genus Carnarvonia, a member of the Proteaceae plant family. It is endemic to the rainforests of northeastern Queensland.
Alyxia spicata, commonly known as chain fruit, is a sprawling shrub or vine in the family Apocynaceae. It is native to New Guinea and the Australian tropics.
Endiandra sankeyana, commonly known as Sankey's walnut, is a plant in the laurel family Lauraceae that was first described in the late 19th century. It is endemic to Queensland, Australia, where it grows in that state's northeastern coastal rainforests.
Xanthophyllum octandrum, commonly known as Macintyre's boxwood, false jitta, yellow boxwood or sovereignwood, is a slow-growing tree in the milkwort family Polygalaceae which has the potential to reach thousands of years of age. It is endemic to coastal northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Alstonia muelleriana is a tree in the dogbane family Apocynaceae which is native to southern Papua New Guinea and northeastern Queensland.
Atractocarpus merikin, commonly known as the mountain gardenia or merikin, is a plant in the Rubiaceae family endemic to northeast Queensland, Australia.
Cleistanthus apodus, commonly known as the weeping Cleistanthus, is a tree in the family Phyllanthaceae native to New Guinea and northeast Queensland. It was first described in 1873 by the English botanist George Bentham in his seven-volume book Flora Australiensis.
Lasianthus chlorocarpus, commonly known as blue rubi, is a plant in the family Rubiaceae native to parts of Malesia, Papuasia and Australia. It is an evergreen shrub growing up to 2 m high in well developed rainforest.
Pittosporum rubiginosum, commonly known as hairy red pittosporum, is an evergreen shrub in the family Pittosporaceae which is endemic to northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Fagraea cambagei, commonly known as porcelain fruit, pink jitta, or yellowheart, is a plant in the family Gentianaceae which is endemic to rainforested parts of coastal northeast Queensland, Australia.
Harpullia rhyticarpa, commonly known as slender harpullia, is a plant in the family Sapindaceae which is endemic to the rainforests northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Argophyllum cryptophlebum is a plant in the Argophyllaceae family endemic to a small part of north eastern Queensland. It was described and named in 1907.
Data related to Alyxia oblongata at Wikispecies
Media related to Alyxia oblongata at Wikimedia Commons