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]
Brachychiton acerifolius is a large tree of the family Malvaceae endemic to tropical and subtropical regions on the east coast of Australia. It is famous for the bright red bell-shaped flowers that often cover the whole tree when it is leafless. It is commonly known as the flame tree, Illawarra flame tree, lacebark tree, or kurrajong.
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.
Elaeocarpus grandis, commonly known as caloon, white quandong, blue quandong, silver quandong, blue fig or blueberry ash, is species of flowering plant in the family Elaeocarpaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a large tree with buttress roots at the base of the trunk, oblong to elliptic leaves with small teeth on the edges, racemes of greenish-white flowers and more or less spherical blue fruit.
Grevillea hilliana, commonly known as white silky oak, white yiel yiel, Hill's silky oak and grey oak, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a tree with lance-shaped to oblong or lobed adult leaves and cylindrical clusters of large numbers of white to pale green flowers.
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.
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.
Syzygium alliiligneum, commonly known as onionwood, Mission Beach satinash or bark in the wood is a species of plant in the family Myrtaceae. It is endemic to a small part of north eastern 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.
Dinosperma is a genus of plant containing the single species Dinosperma erythrococcum, commonly known as tingletongue, clubwood or nutmeg, and is endemic to north-eastern Australia. It is a tree usually with trifoliate leaves arranged in opposite pairs, the leaflets lance-shaped to oblong, and panicles of small white flowers, later bright orange to red, slightly fleshy follicles containing shiny, bluish black seeds.
Palaquium galactoxylum, commonly known as Cairns pencil cedar, Daintree maple or red silkwood, is a species of very large tree in the family Sapotaceae which is endemic to rainforests of New Guinea and northern Australia. It can produce spectacularly large buttress roots.
Elaeocarpus johnsonii, commonly known as Kuranda quandong or Johnson's quandong, is species of flowering plant in the family Elaeocarpaceae and is endemic to north-east Queensland. It is a small to medium-sized tree, often with several main stems, elliptic to egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, racemes of up to seven flowers, the petals with fringed lobes, and dark blue fruit.
Syzygium apodophyllum is a tree in the Myrtaceae family endemic to north Queensland. The fruit is edible. It is a host for the exotic plant-pathogen fungus Austropuccinia psidii, which is causing a lot of damage to vegetation communities and economic plants.
Buckinghamia ferruginiflora, also known as Noah's oak or spotted oak, is a species of rainforest tree in the protea family, one of two in the genus that is endemic to the Wet Tropics of Queensland, north-eastern Australia. Although the tree's differences from its congener had been known since the 1970s, it was only formally described by Donald Foreman and Bernard Hyland in 1988 in the journal Muelleria.
Hypserpa laurina is a slender twining climber in the plant family Menispermaceae. It is native to New Guinea and north eastern Queensland in Australia.