Atractocarpus chartaceus

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Narrow-leaved gardenia
Atractocarpus chartaceus 159805488.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Atractocarpus
Species:
A. chartaceus
Binomial name
Atractocarpus chartaceus
Atractocarpus-chartaceus-distribution-map-improved.png
Synonyms [3]
  • Gardenia chartaceaF.Muell.
  • Randia chartacea(F.Muell.) F.Muell.

Atractocarpus chartaceus, commonly known as the narrow-leaved gardenia, is a species of evergreen flowering plant in the coffee family Rubiaceae. It is found in subtropical rainforest of eastern Queensland, Australia, and it is cultivated for its fragrant flowers and colourful fruit.

Contents

Description

Atractocarpus chartaceus is an understory shrub or small tree growing up to 6 m (20 ft) in height under ideal conditions, with a stem diameter up to 7.5 cm (3.0 in). [4] [5] The trunk is crooked and asymmetrical at the base. The bark is brownish grey, and relatively smooth with some wrinkles or horizontal cracks. The tips of the branchlets have fawn hairs.

The leaves are dark green and glabrous on the upper surface, and dull grey-green below. [4] [5] They may be opposite and decussate, or arranged in whorls or 3 or 4. [4] [5] [6] The juvenile leaves are very long and narrow, measuring up to 25 by 1 cm (9.8 by 0.4 in), while the mature leaves are broadly oblanceolate, measuring up to 15.5 by 5 cm (6.1 by 2.0 in). [4] [5] They have 8-11 pairs of secondary veins (i.e. the veins that branch off from the midrib) which are quite prominent on both surfaces. [4] [5] The leaves are often marked by the trail of a leaf miner.

This species is dioecious, meaning that female and male flowers are borne on separate plants. [4] [5] The inflorescences are either terminal or axillary and include one, two or three flowers. [4] [5] [6] The individual flowers are actinomorphic and either 5 or 6 merous (i.e. with 5 or 6 petals and sepals), [4] [5] and quite fragrant. [5] [7] [8] Flowering occurs from August to October. [6] [9] [10]

The fruits are a berry in botanical terms, measuring 15 to 30 mm (0.59 to 1.18 in) long and 7 to 18 mm (0.28 to 0.71 in) in diameter. [5] [6] [7] They are orange or red, finely hairy and the remains of the calyx tube is attached at the distal end. [4] [5] [6] Fruits contain a sweet edible pulp with several 4 to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.20 in) seeds embedded in it. [5] [8] They ripen from April to August. [8] [9] [10]

Taxonomy

The German naturalist and Victorian Government botanist, Ferdinand von Mueller, originally described this species in 1860 as Gardenia chartacea, publishing it in his work Essay on the plants collected by Mr Eugene Fitzalan during Lieut. Smith's Expedition to the Estuary of the Burdekin. [11] In 1875 he revised the name in his monumental work Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae , transferring it to a new genus with the combination Randia chartacea. [12] More than one hundred years later, in 1999, it was revised by botanists Christopher Francis Puttock and Christopher John Quinn who placed the species in its current genus Atractocarpus. [13]

Etymology

The genus name Atractocarpus is created from the Ancient Greek atractos (spindle) and karpos (fruit). It refers to the shape of the fruit of the type species, Atractocarpus bracteatus . The species epithet chartaceus is derived from the Latin word charta (paper), which is a reference to the thin papery leaves. [9] [14]

Distribution and habitat

The natural range of the narrow-leaved gardenia is coastal subtropical forests of eastern Australia, from the Richmond River, New South Wales, (about 29°S) to Gladstone, Queensland (about 23°S). There is also a small, very disjunct population in Eungella National Park west of Mackay (about 21°S), some 370 km (230 mi) to the north. [4] [5] [6] [7] Puttock surmises that the disjunction is a result of a lack of observations/collections, rather than the plant being absent from the area. [4]

It is usually found on basaltic and alluvial soils where the annual rainfall is between 1,300 and 1,600 mm (51 and 63 in). [4]

Ecology

Atractocarpus chartaceus has been identified as a host plant for the leaf mining larvae of the genus Gracillariidae. [15]

Conservation

This species is listed by both the IUCN and the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern. [1] [2]

Cultivation

Atractocarpus chartaceus has been in cultivation in Australia for some years. [9] It is an attractive garden ornamental with its glossy foliage, scented flowers and colourful fruit, and the flowers attract numerous birds and insects to the garden. [7] [8] It prefers a shady position and good drainage. [7] [8] [9] . It can be propagated from fresh seed, which may take a few months but is usually successful, or from cuttings of the current season's growth. [7] [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Gardenia</i> Genus of flowering plants in the coffee family Rubiaceae

Gardenia is a genus of flowering plants in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Madagascar, Pacific Islands, and Australia.

<i>Archontophoenix alexandrae</i> Species of palm endemic to Queensland

Archontophoenix alexandrae, commonly known as Alexandra palm, king palm, northern Bangalow palm, or feather palm, is a palm endemic to Queensland, Australia. It was named in honour of Princess Alexandra of Denmark, but is often erroneously referred to by the misnomer Alexander palm.

<i>Canarium australianum</i> Species of plant in the family Burseraceae

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<i>Randia</i> (plant) Genus of plants

Randia, commonly known as indigoberry, is a mostly Neotropical genus of shrubs or small trees in the Rubiaceae. As of February 2022 Plants of the World Online lists a total of 112 accepted species in the genus. Several Australian species have been reassigned to the genus Atractocarpus. These include the garden plants Atractocarpus chartaceus and A. fitzalanii.

<i>Melicope micrococca</i> Species of tree

Melicope micrococca, commonly known as hairy-leaved doughwood or white euodia, is a species of shrub or slender tree in the family Rutaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It has trifoliate leaves and white flowers borne in panicles in leaf axils.

<i>Atractocarpus fitzalanii</i> Species of plant in the family Rubiaceae

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.

<i>Atractocarpus benthamianus</i> Species of plant

Atractocarpus benthamianus is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae growing in eastern Australia. It is an understorey species of subtropical and tropical rainforest on fertile soils. The natural range of distribution is from Forster, New South Wales to central Queensland. This plant features beautifully scented flowers.

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

Atractocarpus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. Its members are commonly known as native gardenias in Australia. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek terms atractos "spindle", and karpos "fruit", from the spindle-shaped fruit of the type species.

<i>Dendrocnide photiniphylla</i> Species of plant in the family Urticaceae

Dendrocnide photiniphylla, the shining-leaved stinging tree, is a rainforest tree of eastern Australia. It occurs from near the Colo River northwest of Sydney to Cooktown in tropical Queensland. A versatile species, it occurs in many different rainforest types. The specific epithet photiniphylla translates to shining leaf. The generic name translates to stinging tree.

<i>Carnarvonia araliifolia</i> Species of plant in the family Proteaceae

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.

<i>Palmeria scandens</i> Species of plant in the family Monimiaceae

Palmeria scandens, commonly known as anchor vine or pomegranate vine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Monimiaceae and is native to Queensland, New South Wales and New Guinea. It is a woody vine with elliptic to oblong leaves and male and female flowers borne on separate plants, male flowers usually with thirty to forty stamens and female flowers with about ten carpels. The fruit is green, splitting to form a pinkish receptacle with 3 to 7 black or red drupes.

<i>Goodenia armitiana</i> Species of plant

Goodenia armitiana, commonly known as narrow-leaved goodenia or fine goodenia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to northern Australia. It is an erect herb with sticky or vanished cylindrical leaves, racemes of yellow flowers with leaf-like bracts at the base, and more or less spherical fruit.

<i>Gardenia actinocarpa</i> Species of plant in the family Rubiaceae

Gardenia actinocarpa is a rare and endangered plant in the coffee and gardenia family Rubiaceae, native to a very restricted area within the Wet Tropics rainforest of northeastern Queensland.

<i>Atractocarpus hirtus</i> Species of plant in the family Rubiaceae

Atractocarpus hirtus, commonly known as the hairy gardenia or native loquat, is a plant in the coffee family Rubiaceae, a large family of some 6,500 species with a cosmopolitan distribution. This species is endemic to northeastern Queensland, Australia.

Christopher Francis Puttock, often cited as C.F.Puttock, is an Australian botanist and taxonomist who has interests in the Rubiaceae and Asteraceae flowering plant families as well as Pteridophyta (ferns) and Rhodophyta.

<i>Pomaderris elachophylla</i> Species of shrub

Pomaderris elachophylla, commonly known as lacy pomaderris, small leaf pomaderris or small-leaf dogwood, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a slender shrub with densely hairy branchlets, egg-shaped leaves, and cream-coloured flowers arranged singly or in clusters in leaf axils.

<i>Atractocarpus merikin</i> Species of plant in the family Rubiaceae

Atractocarpus merikin, commonly known as the mountain gardenia or merikin, is a plant in the Rubiaceae family endemic to northeast Queensland, Australia.

<i>Pittosporum ferrugineum</i> Species of plant in the family Pittosporaceae

Pittosporum ferrugineum, commonly known as the rusty pittosporum or rusty-leaved pittosporum, is an evergreen plant in the family Pittosporaceae native to Malesia, Papuasia, the Northern Territory and Queensland.

<i>Atractocarpus sessilis</i> Species of plant in the family Rubiaceae

Atractocarpus sessilis, commonly known as brown randia, is an evergreen shrub in the family Rubiaceae. It is native to both Queensland, Australia, and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

<i>Atractocarpus decorus</i> Species of plant in the family Rubiaceae

Atractocarpus decorus is a plant in the coffee family Rubiaceae which is endemic to New Guinea. Like many others in the genus, it has glossy dark green leaves and attractive white flowers.

References

  1. 1 2 IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group & Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). (2021). "Atractocarpus chartaceus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T192230373A192230375. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T192230373A192230375.en . Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Species profile—Atractocarpus chartaceus". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Atractocarpus chartaceus". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Puttock, C.F. (1999). "Revision of Atractocarpus (Rubiaceae: Gardenieae) in Australia and New Combinations for Some Extra-Australian Taxa". Australian Systematic Botany. 12 (2): 271–309. doi:10.1071/SB97030 . Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Harden, G.J.; Nicholson, H.R.W.; McDonald, W.J.F.; Nicholson, N.J.; Tame, T. (2014). Rainforest Plants of Australia - Rockhampton to Victoria. Terania Rainforest Publishing. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "PlantNET - FloraOnline". PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Atractocarpus chartaceus (RUBIACEAE); Narrow-leaved gardenia". Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Network (BRAIN). Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Atractocarpus chartaceus (Narrow-leaved Gardenia)" (PDF). Gympie & District Landcare. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Atractocarpus chartaceus". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  10. 1 2 "Atractocarpus chartaceus (Narrow-leaved Gardenia)". iNaturalist . Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  11. Essay on the plants collected by Mr Eugene Fitzalan during Lieut. Smith's Expedition to the Estuary of the Burdekin. 1860. Retrieved 27 August 2022 via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  12. Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. Vol. 9. 1875. Retrieved 27 August 2022 via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  13. Puttock CF, Quinn CJ (1999). "Generic concepts in Australian Gardenieae (Rubiaceae): a cladistic approach". Australian Systematic Botany. 12 (2). CSIRO Publishing: 181–199. doi:10.1071/SB98001.
  14. Cooper, Wendy; Cooper, William T. (June 2004). Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia: Nokomis Editions. p. 434. ISBN   9780958174213.
  15. Maunsell, S.C.; Burwell, C.J.; Morris, R.J. (2017). "Host-plants of leaf-miners in Australian subtropical rainforest". Austral Entomology . 56 (4): 403–411. doi:10.1111/aen.12252. S2CID   89550732 . Retrieved 28 August 2022.