Athertonia | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Proteales |
Family: | Proteaceae |
Subfamily: | Grevilleoideae |
Tribe: | Macadamieae |
Subtribe: | Virotiinae |
Genus: | Athertonia L.A.S.Johnson & B.G.Briggs [3] [4] |
Species: | A. diversifolia |
Binomial name | |
Athertonia diversifolia | |
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.
Athertonia diversifolia is a tree growing up to 30 m (98 ft) tall, the trunk may be fluted and may be buttressed. [5] [6] New shoots and young branches are densely covered in fine rust-coloured hairs. [5] [7] The leaf morphology is highly variable − from a simple elliptic shape to deeply lobed, and they may be with or without finely toothed margins. [5] [6] [7] The overall leaf size also varies considerably, from 7 by 4.5 cm (2.8 by 1.8 in) up to 27 by 13 cm (10.6 by 5.1 in). [5] [6] [7] The petiole measures between 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) long. [7]
The inflorescence is a pendulous raceme up to 34 cm (13 in) long, produced terminally, in the leaf axils, and on the branches. [6] [7] The fragrant flowers are cream to green with 4 tepals, and measure up to 2.3 cm (0.91 in) long. [5] [6] [7]
The fruit is green while developing − at maturity it is a blue (or occasionally rose coloured) lens-shaped drupe measuring around 4 cm (1.6 in) long, 3.5 cm (1.4 in) wide and 2.4 cm (0.94 in) thick. The hard, pitted endocarp contains a single seed. [5] [7]
Flowering occurs from February to June, and fruit ripen around August to January. [6] [7]
Athertonia diversifolia was first described in 1918 as Helicia diversifolia by the Queensland Government botanist Cyril Tenison White in his paper Contribution to the Queensland FLora, published in the journal Botany Bulletin. [8] Decades later, in 1955, the Dutch botanist Hermann Otto Sleumer placed it in the genus Hicksbeachia , [9] where it stayed until 1975 when Lawrie Johnson and Barbara Briggs revised the description and created a new genus, Athertonia, for this plant. [7]
The genus name is a reference to the Atherton Tablelands, where the type specimen was collected. [5] [8] The species epithet is derived from the Latin words diverto (to differ), and folia (leaf), and refers to the varied leaf morphology it displays. [6]
The common names "Atherton oak", "silky oak" and "white oak" are given to this species as a reference to the similarity of its leaves to those of the unrelated English oak (Quercus robur).
Athertonia diversifolia is found in north Queensland from the Cape Tribulation area south to the Atherton Tablelands west of Mount Bartle Frere. [10] It grows in rainforest, generally on deep soils of volcanic origin. [11] The altitudinal range is mostly from around 700 to 1,150 m (2,300 to 3,770 ft), [7] but confirmed observations have been made in lowland forest at just 10 m (33 ft) above sea level in the Cow Bay area. [12] [13]
The kernel contained within the hard endocarp of this species is edible to humans, [5] [11] [14] [15] and is also much sought after by native rats, which often gnaw through the hard shell and eat the kernel while it is still attached to the tree. [5] The flowers attract a variety of nectar-eating birds. [11]
Much of the original habitat of the Atherton oak has been cleared, and what is left is highly fragmented. [16] [17] Despite this the species has been given the classification of least concern, by both the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science (DES), [1] and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). [2] Whilst the DES does not publish its procedure or qualification details, the IUCN's assessment states that the population of this species is "locally common and stable", and that the "area, extent and/or quality" of its habitat is not declining. [2]
The Atherton oak has become widely cultivated, [5] due to its attractive, glossy, lobed foliage, and its low maintenance. [11]
Agathis robusta, commonly known as 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.
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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.
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Atractocarpus fitzalanii, commonly known as the brown gardenia or yellow mangosteen, is a species of plant in the coffee and madder family Rubiaceae. It is found in coastal parts of tropical Queensland, Australia. The beautifully scented flowers and glossy foliage has seen this plant enter cultivation in gardens of eastern Australia.
Opisthiolepis is a genus of a sole described species of large trees, constituting part of the plant family Proteaceae. The species Opisthiolepis heterophylla most commonly has the names of blush silky oak, pink silky oak, brown silky oak and drunk rabbit.
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.
Dendrocnide cordifolia, commonly known as the stinging tree, is a plant in the nettle family Urticaceae endemic to the Atherton Tablelands, south west of Cairns, Queensland. Contact with the plant results in a painful sting, however the intensity and duration of the pain from this plant is extreme.
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.
Selaginella longipinna, commonly known as the electric fern, is a plant in the spike moss family Selaginellaceae. It is endemic to northeastern Queensland, growing in rainforest and closed forest from Cooktown to near Mission Beach, including the Atherton Tablelands. It is a terrestrial plant forming a dense cover to 40 cm (16 in) high, often near streams.
Selaginella australiensis is a plant in the spikemoss family Selaginellaceae endemic to northeastern Queensland. It grows in rainforest and closed forest from Cooktown to near Mission Beach, including the Atherton Tablelands. It is a low growing and much branched terrestrial plant inhabiting damp shady locations, typically along stream banks.
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