| Backhousia tetraptera | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Backhousia |
| Species: | B. tetraptera |
| Binomial name | |
| Backhousia tetraptera | |
Backhousia tetraptera is a tree in the family Myrtaceae. The only known population occurs at the foot of Mount Stuart near Townsville in Queensland, Australia. [3] [4]
The species grows to between 5 and 12 metres (16 and 39 ft) high often with multiple trunks that have a mottled flaking bark including grey, grey-brown and/or pink colouration. The leaves are simple and opposite and are 5.5 to 9 cm (2.2 to 3.5 in) long and 1.5 to 3.8 cm (0.6 to 1.5 in) wide. [3] The white flowers appear in clusters of 10 and have 56 to 65 stamens. Flowering is induced by the first significant rainfall of the wet season, appearing four weeks later. [3] The distinctive fruits are capsules with four wings that appear in clusters and fade from pink to white and dry to brown. [3]
The species was formally described in 2012. [2] [5] As of September 2024 [update] it was designated critically endangered under the EPBC Act. [1]