Ivory curl tree | |
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Street tree in Cairns, Queensland, December 2022 | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Proteales |
Family: | Proteaceae |
Genus: | Buckinghamia |
Species: | B. celsissima |
Binomial name | |
Buckinghamia celsissima | |
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.
Buckinghamia celsissima is a large tree growing up to 30 m (98 ft) tall in its natural rainforest habitat, [4] but is much smaller when cultivated. [5] [6] The leaves are dark green above and somewhat glaucous or whitish below, held on petioles about 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long. [4] [7] While the first few leaves on a new shoot may be deeply lobed, those on older twigs are simple with entire margins (see gallery). [7] These mature leaves are elliptic and grow to lengths of around 20 cm (7.9 in) and 7 cm (2.8 in) wide. [4] [7]
The showy cream-coloured flowers appear over summer and autumn. [4] [7] The inflorescence is an axillary or terminal pendant raceme up to 27 cm (11 in) in length. [4] [6] [7] Individual flowers are densely clustered on the axis, on pedicels about 8 mm (0.3 in) long and have tepals around 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. [4] [7]
Fruits of the ivory curl tree are follicles, green in colour while developing but turning brown or black on maturity. At this point they are up to 30 mm (1.2 in) long by 20 mm (0.8 in) wide and contain up to 6 small brown seeds, which are released as the fruit dehisces. [4] [7] [8]
This species was described in 1868 by the German-born Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller, based on material collected by John Dallachy near Rockingham Bay in 1865. Mueller published his description in volume 6 of his massive work Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae . [2] [4] [6] [7] B. celsissima is one of only two species in the genus, the other being Buckinghamia ferruginiflora , described in 1988. [9]
Mueller created the genus Buckinhamia in honour of Richard Temple-Grenville, the 3rd Duke of Buckingham. The species epithet celsissima is from the Latin celsus, meaning "tall", "proud" or "noble", combined with the suffix -issimus, "very". [4] [5] [6]
The natural range of Buckinghamia celsissima is northeastern Queensland from near Rossville to the Paluma Range, north of Townsville, at altitudes from 200 m (660 ft) to 1,000 m (3,280 ft). [5] [7] [8]
It grows in well developed rainforest on deep red volcanic soils, as well as drier rainforest types associated with Kauri pine. [7] [8]
The ivory curl tree is one of the host species for larvae of the cornelian butterfly. [8] When in flower it will attract a variety of insects to the inflorescences, among them the beetle Dilochrosis brownii , [10] which in turn attracts insectivorous birds. [5] The seeds are eaten by crimson rosellas (Platycercus elegans). [4]
This species is listed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern. [1] As of 15 December 2022 [update] , it has not been assessed by the IUCN.
The ivory curl tree has become a popular planting in parks, streets and private gardens in regions far beyond the natural range of the tree. Its popularity is due to the ease of cultivation, the mass flowering and its variable foliage shape and colour. It grows well even as far south as Sydney and Melbourne, but only reaches about 7–8 m (23–26 ft) tall in these areas. [5] [6] [7] [8]
Hymenosporum is a monotypic genus of trees in the family Pittosporaceae. The sole included species is Hymenosporum flavum, commonly known as native frangipani, found in the rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests of New Guinea, Queensland and New South Wales. Despite its common name, it is not closely related to the frangipani, but is related to the widespread genus Pittosporum.
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.
Buckinghamia is a genus of only two known species of trees, belonging to the plant family Proteaceae. They are endemic to the rainforests of the wet tropics region of north eastern Queensland, Australia. The ivory curl flower, B. celsissima, is the well known, popular and widely cultivated species in gardens and parks, in eastern and southern mainland Australia, and additionally as street trees north from about Brisbane. The second species, B. ferruginiflora, was only recently described in 1988.
Canarium australianum, commonly known as scrub turpentine, is a species of tree in the family Burseraceae native to Australia and Papua New Guinea. Other common names include mango bark, carrot wood, parsnip wood, Melville Island white beech and brown cudgerie.
Zanthoxylum brachyacanthum, known as thorny yellow-wood, satinwood, satin tree or scrub mulga, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae and is endemic to north-eastern Australia. It is a rainforest shrub or tree with thick, cone-shaped spines on the trunk and prickles on the branches, pinnate leaves, and male and female flowers arranged in panicles.
Phaleria clerodendron, commonly known as scented daphne, scented phaleria or rosy apple, is an evergreen tree or tall shrub in the family Thymelaeaceae. It is endemic to the rainforests of north-eastern Queensland, Australia.
Stenocarpus cryptocarpus, commonly known as the giant-leaved stenocarpus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to north Queensland. It is a tree with buttress roots at the base, simple, mostly elliptical adult leaves, groups of cream-coloured flowers and narrow oblong follicles.
Cordyline manners-suttoniae, commonly known as the giant palm lily, is an evergreen plant found only in rainforest of northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Syzygium cormiflorum, commonly known as the bumpy satinash, is a species of Syzygium tree endemic to Queensland in northeastern Australia.
Hollandaea is a small genus of plants in the family Proteaceae containing four species of Australian rainforest trees. All four species are endemic to restricted areas of the Wet Tropics of northeast Queensland.
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.
Stenocarpus davallioides, commonly known as the fern-leaved stenocarpus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to north Queensland. It is a tree with simple or pinnate adult leaves, groups of creamy-green flowers and narrow oblong follicles.
Syzygium forte, commonly known as flaky-barked satinash, white apple or brown satinash, is a tree in the family Myrtaceae native to New Guinea and northern Australia.
Mackinlaya macrosciadea, commonly known as mackinlaya or blue umbrella, is a plant in the carrot, fennel and parsley family Apiaceae, found in the Northern Territory and Queensland, Australia.
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.
Archidendron vaillantii, commonly known as the salmon bean, is an evergreen tree in the legume family Fabaceae. It is endemic to the rainforests of northeast Queensland.
Sterculia shillinglawii, commonly known as tulip sterculia or lacewood, is a tree in the cotton and cocoa family Malvaceae, native to Papuasia and northeastern Australia.
Gillbeea adenopetala, commonly known as Pink alder, is an evergreen tree in the largely southern hemisphere family Cunoniaceae. It was first described in 1865 and is endemic to a small part of Queensland, Australia.
Aceratium megalospermum, commonly known as bolly carabeen, creek aceratium or carabeen, is a plant in the family Elaeocarpaceae found only in the Wet Tropics bioregion of Queensland, Australia.
Balanops australiana, commonly known as pimplebark, is a plant in the family Balanopaceae found only in the coastal regions of northern and central Queensland, Australia.